NRL star Ben Barba sacked from the Cowboys after an ‘incident at Townsville casino’ 

NRL star Ben Barba is sacked by the Cowboys for ‘breaching his contract over an incident at Townsville casino’

  • NRL star Ben Barba has been dropped by the Cowboys after an incident at casino
  • The NRL were made aware of it on Friday and police are believe to be involved
  • His contract was terminated due to ‘significant breach of terms of his contract’ 

NRL star Ben Barba has been sacked by the Cowboys after an investigation into an incident at a Townsville casino.

The NRL were made aware of it on Friday and police are believe to be involved. 

Barba had only just been named the fullback for the Indigenous team for the All Stars game on February 15 when news of the investigation broke. 

His contract with the North Queensland Cowboys was then terminated due to a ‘significant breach of the terms of his contract’.

After a string of off field indiscretions culminated in his two year suspension Ben Barba (pictured with daughter Bodhi) was looking to make things right upon his return next season

He was involved in a drunken car park brawl with Bulldogs team-mates Lee te Maari and Jamal Idris at the Wentworthville Hotel in Sydney in 2009 (pictured with daughters Bodhi, Bronte, Blaise and Bobbi)

He was involved in a drunken car park brawl with Bulldogs team-mates Lee te Maari and Jamal Idris at the Wentworthville Hotel in Sydney in 2009 (pictured with daughters Bodhi, Bronte, Blaise and Bobbi)

In a statement chairman Laurence Lancini said: ‘When a player joins the North Queensland Cowboys he agrees to abide by the terms of the contract.

‘After an internal investigation, it has been determined that this player has acted in contradiction to both the terms and the spirit of that agreement. Accordingly, the club has terminated his contract and has informed the NRL’s Integrity Unit.’

Barba, 29, was suspended for testing positive to the cocaine in 2016 after starring in the Cronulla Sharks’ run to an inaugural NRL Premiership.

He had promised to stop using the drug late last year as he made a last-ditch attempt to salvage his career. 

The star playmaker signed with the North Queensland Cowboys for the 2019 season after spending the last two seasons in exile in England. 

He was drug tested after the historic 2016 grand final win and tested positive for cocaine, causing the NRL to suspend him.

The star playmaker signed with the North Queensland Cowboys for the 2019 season after spending the last two seasons in exile in England

The star playmaker signed with the North Queensland Cowboys for the 2019 season after spending the last two seasons in exile in England

He was drug tested after the historic 2016 grand final win and tested positive for cocaine, causing the NRL to suspend him (pictured with two of his daughters)

He was drug tested after the historic 2016 grand final win and tested positive for cocaine, causing the NRL to suspend him (pictured with two of his daughters)

Shortly after the Sharks released him from his contract to address ‘personal issues’. 

But his off field incidents had begun years before the positive drug test.

He was involved in a drunken car park brawl with Bulldogs team-mates Lee te Maari and Jamal Idris at the Wentworthville Hotel in Sydney in 2009. 

However, it seemed the troubles truly began after Barba’s break out year while playing for the Bulldogs when he won the Dally M Medal in 2012.

More to come 



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