Sports Confidential: NRL urges Rugby Football League to uphold Ben Barba’s cocaine ban

SPORTS CONFIDENTIAL: The NRL has written to the Rugby Football League, urging them to uphold Ben Barba’s 12-match ban for cocaine use.

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THE NRL has written to England’s governing body, the Rugby Football League, urging them to enforce Ben Barba’s 12-game cocaine ban after his new club St Helens look to have the suspension quashed.

Barba inked two and a half year deal with St Helens following an ill-fated stint with French rugby club Toulon. But Barba still has a 12-game suspension hanging over his head after he was banned for a second drug strike following Cronulla’s grand final celebrations.

The NRL and the RFL have a “gentlemen’s agreement” when it comes to enforcing each competition’s bans.

St Helens are arguing that the NRL stated the ban would have to be served if and when Barba returns to the NRL, and that had the drug offence been committed in England there would have been no ban.

An NRL spokesman said the NRL expects Barba to serve his ban before he makes his St Helens debut.

“The NRL and the RFL recognise each other’s suspensions and we believe the English rugby league will seek to enforce the ban,” the spokesman said.

St Helens sit in sixth on the premiership ladder.

BLUES SHOW RESPECT FOR TIM WHO

THERE were some nice scenes straight after the full-time siren on Wednesday night when NSW players told Queenslander Tim “Who’’ Glasby he had definitely earned his representative call-up.

The Maroons debutant became a hot topic of conversation after his selection was mocked last week.

While Glasby was happy to laugh off The Daily Telegraph’s controversial back-page headline — and even accepted the negative press as ‘’Origin banter’’ — he was flattered by the surprise encouragement from the Blues.

“With all the changes that were made to the team, there was always going to be the questioning of selections,’’ Glasby said.

Glasby made his Origin debut off the bench.

“Andrew Fifita came up to me after the game, I also know Wade from playing with him (at Penrith), and they both said, ‘you deserve to be here’, which was good of them to say,’’ Glasby.

“A couple of them took a minute to say, ‘mate, you’ve worked hard, you deserve to be here, congratulations’.’’

Glasby got off to the worst possible start when he missed a tackle on James Maloney in the lead-up to Jarryd Hayne’s try, then misread the attack as Jake Trbojevic threw an inside ball for James Tedesco who put Mitchell Pearce over.

Coach Kevvie Walters said that “Tim Who was excellent for us’’, while captain Cameron Smith joked that his Storm teammate wasn’t regarded as one of the 17 players in Sydney.

“That was a pretty fair effort to get the win tonight — with 16 men — in Sydney,” Smith said.

SLATER KNEW THURSTON WOULD DO IT

BILLY Slater knew Johnathan Thurston would nail the matchwinner from the sideline as soon as he tossed him the ball.

“I had the ball after ‘Gags’ scored the last try, I gave it to ‘Johnno’ and said, ‘this is what you’re about here, mate’,’’ Slater said.

“He looked at me and said, ‘yep’. I knew then it was going over. He was that confident.’’

WHY JACKSON WON MAN OF THE MATCH

SPEAKING of Thurston, he was unlucky to miss out on the man-of-the-match honours.

So, too, was two-try hero Dane Gagai. Even Josh McGuire.

Josh Jackson became the first player in 26 years to be rated best on ground in a losing side by the voting panel, made up of Kangaroos selectors Darren Lockyer, Bob Fulton and Bob McCarthy.

Votes had to be in around five minutes before full-time, which was about three minutes before JT slotted the matchwinner from out wide.

Jackson was not even awarded the Blues’ players player, an honour which went to Blake Ferguson.

Dane Gagai would have been a fine choice for man of the match.

TUPOU WON’T HEAD WEST

DANIEL Tupou is yet to re-sign with the Sydney Roosters, and he could only laugh when busted at Wests Tigers training last week.

While the Tigers could do with a tall classy finisher on the wing, Tupou was at Concord Oval to catch up with his cousin, not to discuss a move to the joint venture.

“My cousin plays for West Harbour, their gym is on the other side of Concord Oval where the Tigers train, we had the week off so I thought I’d go and do some extras with him,’’ Tupou told us.

“If I knew they were training I wouldn’t have rocked up. It was just bad timing.

“I’d love to stay here, but it comes down to them (the Roosters).’’

KEARY SURPRISED BY FERGO

LUKE Keary was pleasantly surprised when getting to know new Sydney Roosters teammate Blake Ferguson.

“I thought this bloke was going to be wild, he’d done some stuff and even got himself kicked out of the game,’’ Keary said.

“But he is one of the nicest blokes I’ve met.

“I can’t see how he got himself into trouble. He really cares about the club and his own game.’’

CLEARY’S MISSED OPPORTUNITY

NATHAN Cleary was keen to play against Johnathan Thurston for the first time and his 300th NRL match.

Not only did JT debut in 2002 when Cleary was in kindy, he also played against his old man, Wests Tigers coach Ivan Cleary, who entered his farewell year with the Warriors.

Cleary even scored a try in the shock win over the Dogs.

Coach Cleary told us: “I don’t remember playing against him, but I remember when he came into grade because he was really small, but he always got his body in the way, and thinking, ‘he’s having a go, that’s for sure’. He’’s been doing that a while now, and Wednesday night was another great example.’’

The NRL will not stop Newcastle from registering Kenny-Dowall.

NRL WON’T BLOKE SKD’S MOVE

THE NRL won’t stand in the way of Shaun Kenny-Dowall moving to Newcastle.

Despite pleading guilty to drug charges this week, the NRL is prepared to register Kenny-Dowall’s next contract, meaning he could be fast-tracked to make his NRL comeback as early as next week.

English Super League club Salford have also expressed interest in signing Kenny-Dowall. The former Rooster was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond but had no charges recorded.

Sport Confidential also understand Kenny-Dowall won’t have to meet with the NRL’s integrity unit before having his contracted registered.

He may have some conditions attached to his registration, meaning he may need to undertake some drug education courses as part of his return.

Kenny-Dowall has not played since round nine and was released by the Roosters which will be deemed as sufficient punishment by the NRL.

Kenny-Dowall’s manager George Christodoulou confirmed his clients focus will now shift to resurrecting his rugby league career.

“Shaun is deeply remorseful and disappointed with himself for making a poor decision that has subsequently affected his family, former teammates and the Roosters club greatly,” Christodoulou said. “He unequivocally accepts the consequences of his actions. He is glad to put these court proceedings behind him and (is) now hopeful of securing an opportunity to resurrect his playing career at a new club.”

With Knights coach Nathan Brown keen to have the veteran Kiwi outside back on his books, Kenny-Dowall just needs the all clear from the Newcastle board.

CHISEL WILL HEADLINE NEWCASTLE 500

COLD Chisel are back baby.

The iconic Australian rock band will headline the Newcastle 500 in November.

Sport Confidential understands the Supercars will announce Cold Chisel’s return in a press conference in Newcastle today.

The group performed at the inaugural Sydney 500 in 2009. Led by front man Jimmy Barnes, it is expected this will be only performance for the group this year.

Cold Chisel will headline the Newcastle 500.

TOM TURBO IN AWE OF BROTHER

BLUE in waiting Tom Trbojevic was in awe of older brother Jake’s performance on Wednesday night. Tom warmed up with the NSW side and was part of the Blues inner-sanctum as he bides his time for an Origin debut.

“After losing an Origin game it was pretty demoralising,” Tom said.

“We let ourselves down in the second half.

“I was like any fan, I’ve loved watching NSW play. I was a bit nervous. (Jake) went really well. He came on 20-25 minutes into the game and had a good stint. He put Teddy (Tedesco) through and had some good carries.

“He was happy with his performance but then again a bit disappointed because he would have loved to lock the series up.”

WRONG: Archer admits refs got it wrong

PISSED OFF: Hayne’s battle with officials

TICKETS RACE OUT THE DOOR

JOHNATHAN Thurston’s match winning conversion sparked a ticket frenzy for the series decider in Brisbane.

About 5000 tickets were sold from the time Thurston laid boot to ball until midnight, with only limited availability left. This comes after Brisbane failed to sell out Origin I.

CANTERBURY WANT NEW TOP DOG

DO you have political maturity?

Can you encapsulate Canterbury’s values of “tough, resilient and family?”

If you can then you may be an ideal candidate to be the Bulldogs’ next chief executive. Canterbury have advertised their chief executive position following Raelene Castle’s decision to step down at the end of the season.

Other key elements for the role include implanting a new strategic plan and ensuring “the Bulldogs will be seen as the benchmark for success in the rugby league world both on and off the field in the years ahead”.

Interviews will start at the end of next month.

Originally published as Sports Confidential: NRL urges Rugby Football League to uphold Ben Barba’s cocaine ban