Ben Barba: NRL winner
Ben Barba: NRL winner

Ben Barba tipped to become a fan favourite at St Helens


New signing Ben Barba will quickly become a fan favourite at St Helens, according to their former boss Ian Millward.

Former NRL star Barba joined the Super League club last week after his career at Cronulla Sharks, with whom he won the Grand Final last season, came to an end following a positive test for cocaine.

St Helens and their new Australian coach Justin Holbrook have now given the 27-year-old the chance to resurrect his career and Millward, currently working in the NRL as director of rugby at St George Illawarra, says he will add real quality to an attack which has disappointed so far this year.

“He’s a world-class player,” Millward told sportinglife.com.

“Canterbury made the Grand Final on the back of him being player of the year, and then at Cronulla he had 19 try assists during the year (2016). The attack was outstanding and they went on and won the comp.

“He's small in stature but very successful - very much a crowd favourite and I think Saints fans will really enjoy him.

“The problems he’s had are indiscretions off the field but in the right mind and in the right environment he does very well.”

Millward has been unimpressed by his former club, who he helped to two Super League titles in the early 2000s, this season but says the signing is a sign of progress.

“He will improve St Helens and give them opportunities to look a bit better in attack which this year hasn’t been great.

“They currently sit seventh which is not good for a club of St Helens’ standard. Even Catalans in eighth have scored more points.

“Signing Barba is definitely a step in the right direction.”

Whether Barba plays any time soon though remains open to question.

He has a 12-match ban imposed by the NRL for his failed drugs test hanging over him and it is expected to stand in England too. Saints say they will examine the details of the suspension but in the meantime the player will at least be allowed to train with his new team-mates.

If the ban is confirmed, Barba will not be able to play for his new club until August by which time the Super 8 stage of the season will be in full swing.

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