Bulldog Ben Barba charges into Dally M contention

THE Bulldogs electrifying fullback Ben Barba has stormed into Dally M contention on the back of a number of spectacular recent performances.

HE'S considered too inexperienced to play State of Origin this year and plays in a position that has provided only three Dally M winners since the award's inception in 1980.

Punters have also abandoned him in betting on the game's most prestigious award. Yet the Bulldogs electrifying fullback Ben Barba has stormed into contention on the back of a number of spectacular performances in recent weeks.

Only Billy Slater (2011), Jarryd Hayne (2009) and Mick Potter (1984/91) have won the Dally M award as fullbacks.

As voting goes secret, the brilliant fullback is just three points behind the leader Cooper Cronk after 16 rounds.

His price has firmed from $41 in the opening rounds of the competition to $7 after last Sunday's victory over Melbourne. Not that the punters have shown much interest.

Champion storm fullback Billy Slater has attracted almost 12 per cent of all money outlaid on the NSW TAB.

Barba has got just 1.6 per cent.

Still, no player in the competition is in better form than the dashing Bulldogs fullback.

The try he set up from his own in-goal area for Josh Morris in Mackay last Sunday will be on highlight reels for years.

The fact Barba hasn't played Origin will work in his favour over the remaining rounds of the premiership.

Most of the leaders including Cronk, Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis have knocked themselves around in the three toughest games of the season.

Barba enjoys the bye this weekend and starts fresh next week.

The Bulldogs fullback has always had the skill and he's improved under the direction of Des Hasler's coaching

The freakish speed, freakish footwork and that rare instinct to sniff out a try from anywhere on the football field.

He'd be a fitting winner.