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"HFK, Fair point. Sure, we could. But balancing incoming youth with experience is almost a perennial issue. A constant cycle. It never really goes away. At least not for too long. "
"Don't rate him at all . Still needs time in lower grades "
"Good to see players are finally free to get around in their sports bras with Brown out of the picture.
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"Joash definitely did"
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Ben Barba risks being suspended for entire 2017 season if he plays rugby in France
The NRL was in discussions with the Cronulla Sharks about advancing contract payments to superstar fullback Ben Barba to pay his mortgage and family bills while serving his 12-week suspension.
Still his agents Chris and Gavin Orr went ahead to organise a short term contract with French rugby club Toulon which has left his NRL career for the remainder of 2017 in jeopardy.
There is a school of thought at Moore Park headquarters that Barba’s suspension should now start when he returns home from France.
Otherwise it would open a loophole for other suspended players to do the same thing.
Barba’s contract with the Sharks to return in round 12 has yet to be registered by the NRL. So legally, he is not contracted as a Cronulla Sharks NRL player.
The NRL has in the past stopped contracted players from playing in other codes.
Benji Marshall once wanted to have a short off-season in Japanese rugby but was knocked back.
Barba’s problem is that he cannot survive and support his young family without a weekly cash flow.
He has little in savings and has previously undergone treatment for a gambling problem.
The Cronulla Sharks board is meeting this morning to discuss their next move.
Obviously they will be guided by whatever ruling integrity unit boss Nick Weeks comes up with.
The concern now for the NRL is Barba’s immediate welfare treatment.
They had been in discussions with the Sharks for weeks about an ongoing follow-up program to his recent treatment at a Thailand rehabilitation treatment.
Moving to a non-English speaking country is unlikely to be helpful.
The Sharks had no idea Barba was planning the move to French rugby.
Not until Shane Flanagan’s mobile phone rang at 10pm last night with agent Chris Orr breaking the news that his premiership winning fullback was heading overseas.
In fairness to Barba, he was been waiting for at least two weeks to get a contract registered with the NRL for the second half of the season.
His manager tried to contact NRL CEO Todd Greenberg yesterday but couldn’t get through.
So with mounting bills to pay, he chose the short term option of playing rugby in France.
Whether it’s the right long term decision only time will tell.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/ben-barba-risks-being-su...
Barba is a joke anyway. If the NRL were serious the breach should have been a season. It was his 2nd breach I thought. Let him go to Union and not come back; we do not need players of this calibre nor the grubby managers.
I would do the same thing in his situation
The NRL look like total nuffies for letting him put them in this situation.
except barba VOLUNTARILY agreed with the sharks to terminate his contract after being caught, the nrl went on record to say they could have just suspended him and allowed him to be paid and continue to train, instead they tried to pull a smart one and got their pants pulled down...zero sympathy deserved
I think there are a number of issues here. Firstly, why did the NRL hold off on registering his contract? Did they get wind of what Barba was planning, or was is incompetence?
Secondly, Barba has been a top level player for a number of years, earning top dollar. Why is he now out of cash, rather than living off his investments? The article states a gambling problem which seems to be far too prevalent with highly paid sports people lately. I'd like to see the clubs come together to ensure all players have access to smart financial and career planning services. These are young guys with a whole career's worth of money earned in just a few short years.
That's what agents do for their 10%.
These players are adults often stupid ones but adults nonetheless
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