Makes sense, he's suspended and we sacked him. If we're going to re-sign, we'll at least have to show we aren't trying to blatantly bending the rules. WE did have a fairly recent scandal that got us into hot water, so we have form.
More importantly, if he's training on his own now and also can't train with us (or any club I presume) for the first 12 weeks of the season, he'll have to be focussed and committed like nothing else.
The discipline it will take for him to fly solo over the next 17 weeks in eating, training and living right, whilst he is not contractually obliged to do so, will be incredible.
If he can pull that off, he'll have earnt his way back.
From the newspaper which a Kent writes for:
BEN Barba’s bid to fast-track his return to rugby league has been blocked by the NRL.
Cronulla officials reached out to the NRL in the hope Barba will be allowed to return to training with the side immediately despite being axed by the Sharks for testing positive to cocaine.
Cronulla’s request was denied by the NRL, in what is the first official sign the premiership winning fullback will continue to play at the Sharks once his 12-game ban ends.
And in a move which could further dampen Barba’s prospects of an NRL return, he may be forced to front up to the NRL’s integrity unit and asked to explain his actions and present a clear path for rehabilitation before any all clear is given to resume his career.
It is the same track another wayward star Kieran Foran must travel before he is given the green light to play again.
Barba tested positive four days after the grand final.
An NRL spokesman confirmed a request from the Sharks for Barba to train with the team has been rejected.
The spokesman said that, if Barba had been suspended — rather than sacked — by the club he would have been able to train with the Sharks in preparation for the 2017 season while he served his 12 game ban.
LAST CHANCE: Sandow heads to the bush
TROUBLE: Roberts accused of mandhandling woman
“However, given his contract has been terminated by the Sharks we do not think it is appropriate that he trains with the team,” the spokesman said.
Cronulla would need the NRL to approve Barba’s playing contract before he is able to resume training with the club.
There are fears had the NRL allowed Barba to instantly return to training that it would make a mockery of his ban.
Barba was banned for 12 weeks after testing positive to cocaine for the second time.
Cronulla chief executive Lyall Gorman would not comment when contacted by the Daily Telegraph yesterday. The Sharks are now racing the clock to have Barba’s contract registered in time for round one to ensure he is free to play when his three month ban ends for Cronulla’s round 14 game against the Storm on June 8.
Barba’s 12-game suspension will start once he is a registered NRL player. He recorded the positive drug test four days after Cronulla’s historic grand final win.
He worked as a labourer in Sydney last month after returning from a 28-day stint in a Thai rehab clinic.
In Foran’s situation, he has been given the go ahead to train with the Warriors despite uncertainty surrounding his NRL return.
It is understood Foran has been allowed to train with the Warriors as he was not sacked by the club and New Zealand are working closely with the NRL on a rehabilitation program for Foran.
