Comeback ... Ben Barba will make his much-anticipated return against South Sydney.Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited
As part of our efforts to bring even more rugby league to fans, Fox Sports rugby league expert Laurie Daley will provide unique video previews of every round of the NRL season.
This week Loz continues his comprehensive look with round four, highlighting Ben Barba's return to the Canterbury-Bankstown lineup as a big factor in their Good Friday clash with South Sydney.
"Benny Barba in particular will be a massive inclusion," says Daley. "Just his speed and his anticipation, and if there's a half-break he's second to none."
It's no surprise that Barba's return will be the talking point of the round, but does Loz think his inclusion be enough to get the Bulldogs over the line against a high-flying Rabbitohs outfit?
See what else Loz has to say in his video previews of the round below.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v South Sydney Rabbitohs, ANZ Stadium, Friday 4.00pm (EDT). LIVE on Fox Sports 1HD
Brisbane Broncos v Melbourne Storm, Suncorp Stadium, Friday 8.05pm (EDT).
Cronulla Sharks v St George Illawarra Dragons, Sharks Stadium, Saturday 7.30pm (EDT). LIVE on Fox Sports 1HD
Ben Barba ... long road to full recovery.Source: PAUL MILLER / AAP
Troubled Canterbury-Bankstown star Ben Barba is back in the NRL as part of strict, 12-month rehabilitation program - where any failure to comply will again see him stood down.
In a stunning declaration on the eve of his Good Friday comeback, Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg has revealed that, far from being healed, the reigning Dally M medallist is entering an extensive program which "lasts 12 months, maybe longer".
Greenberg said the 23-year-old, stood down in the pre-season for a series of personal issues, was also "acutely aware" of the ramifications should he stray from the new plan set by medical professionals.
"Ben's not at the end of any journey, he has a long way to go," Greenberg said.
"He's only part way through a much longer program that is going to be coupled with his football commitments.
"As part of that, there are new requirements, new commitments which will form part of his personal program and be as important as any speed, strength or football testing.
"While the club doesn't oversee (the rehabilitation), we get regular reports. It's about preventative measures to make sure Ben's got all the tools and skills equipped to ensure he keeps developing. He's not at his destination point yet."
Asked if failure to complete any part of the new program, which is being overseen by private doctors, could see him stood down, Greenberg continued: "Absolutely.
"Ben's acutely aware of that. He now has a schedule overlaid with additional responsibilities, he knows them and the club knows them."
More than 40,000 fans are expected for the blockbuster between Canterbury and the South Sydney at ANZ Stadium.
Barba will return in his trademark No.1 jersey, only a month after Greenberg fronted a packed press conference to reveal his superstar was "ill" with issues dating back to childhood.
Asked about criticism suggesting Barba was returning too soon, Greenberg continued: "My response is that he's only part way through a much longer program.
"People shouldn't judge unless they have all the information in front of them and we're being guided by experts in the field. Benny spent an intensive two-week period inside a facility and now he has another 12-month program.
"He knows he has a lot of work to do off the field in order for him to improve as a person. That doesn't just happen overnight.
"But it's been made very clear to me that being back in the football environment and training with his teammates is a big part of his recovery. To isolate him from that - in the words of the specialist - would be counterproductive."
He's back ... Ben Barba is named to make his return for the Bulldogs.Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited
After just two games with his new club, star Sydney Roosters NRL recruit Luke O'Donnell was stood down on Tuesday following a series of minor breaches of club discipline.
O'Donnell will miss the Roosters round-four match against Parramatta on Monday night after a number of indiscretions including being late to training.
Luke Kelly (hamstring) and Ken Sio (ankle) return for the Eels.
O'Donnell joined the tricolours from Huddersfield for the 2013 season and has showed good form in the two wins over the Warriors and Brisbane.
Roosters chief operating officer of football, Brian Canavan, said the club had investigated allegations of a Kings Cross incident involving the former representative backrower but "there was nothing in it".
"It was more a matter that he was late to training and, as a seasoned player, the punishment was more heavyhanded than it might have been for a younger player," Canavan said.
"It was about drawing a line in the sand."
While O'Donnell is the major out of round four of the NRL, Brisbane's Justin Hodges and Canterbury-Bankstown pair Ben Barba and Frank Pritchard are the big ins.
Hodges returns to a Broncos side struggling for points against unbeaten Melbourne on Friday, while Barba and Pritchard reinforce the 2013 grand finalists who face South Sydney on Friday at ANZ Stadium.
Roy Asotasi returns to an extended seven-man bench for the undefeated Rabbitohs after being dumped for poor form from their high-scoring win over Penrith.
"The message is pretty simple. If you're performing well, you'll keep your spot. That's what we base all our selections on," Souths captain Michael Crocker said.
"We're really fortunate we've got good depth and we've got people pushing for positions."
Newcastle welcome back interchange centre Timana Tahu for the first time this season for Sunday's match against Canberra at Hunter Stadium.
Danny Buderus will make his starting debut after coming off the bench in the Knights' round-three thrashing of North Queensland.
Robbie Rochow will slot into the second row for the Knights to cover for the injured Beau Scott, who is sidelined with a groin injury. Chris Houston remains captain with Kurt Gidley still recovering from a calf injury.
Manly utility Jesse Sene-Lefao has come onto the bench for the suspended Richard Fa'aoso for Thursday's game against Wests Tigers in Gosford. Fa'aoso will front the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night in an attempt to have his four-match ban for dangerous contact reduced to one.
Centre Ben Pomeroy returns from suspension for Cronulla to face St George Illawarra at Sharks Stadium on Saturday, while hooker Isaac De Gois is on a five-man bench.
Under-siege Dragons coach Steve Price has named an unchanged 17.
Gold Coast are hopeful of playing the same 17-man squad for the fourth week in a row against Penrith on Sunday with lock Ashley Harrison (concussion) looking to recover from his head clash and centre Brad Takairangi from a hamstring complaint.
The Cowboys have named an unchanged team for the clash against the Warriors in Auckland on Easter Monday.
The embattled Warriors, who have lost 11 successive games going back to last season, welcome back prop Sam Rapira and winger Glen Fisiiahi.
Ben Barba ... has his first day back at training with the Bulldogs after being discharged from a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre.Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited
Embattled superstar Ben Barba should not be rushed back into Canterbury-Bankstown?s NRL side, according to Fox Sports NRL expert Brett Kimmorley.
Former Bulldogs halves coach, Kimmorley, says Barba will struggle to return to the football field because the scrutiny which forced him from the game will be the same when he returns.
"(Barba) will struggle to come back in because the pressures that got him into those situations are going to be the same pressures he’s going to be under when he comes back," Kimmorley said on NRL 360.
"Everyone’s going to say 'how good is it that Barba’s back, the savior's back, were going to score points' and that scrutiny is going to come back straight on him.
Watch the video at the top of the page to see Gordie and Noddy discuss Barba's return to the NRL.
"If he couldn’t handle the pressure before how is it going to be any different next time?"
Barba has not been named for the grand final re-match against Melbourne on Thursday and did not travel with the team on Wednesday.
While his return is imminent, former Australian and Queensland captain Gordon Tallis believes the more time spent on the sidelines will only increase the pressure.
"The pressure is going to be if he sits out too long and comes back out of form, there is going to be more pressure on him," Tallis said.
"There’s pressure that if we wait any longer and he runs out of condition and he comes back there’s going to be a huge media scrutiny on this kid that got him in trouble in the first place."
The Bulldogs will wait on a written letter from Barba’s doctor clearing him to play before he makes his return.
"He got back to training last Friday so we will just have to monitor it from here on his physical wellbeing."
"At the moment I can't give an answer on his immediate comeback probably until midway through next week, once he gets some solid training under his belt."
Barba's back ... the troubled NRL star makes a return to Bulldogs training.Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited
Bulldogs star Ben Barba is on track to make his NRL return with coach Des Hasler confirming he's back training with the side.
Hasler said the 2012 Dally M player of the year wouldn't be back for next Thursday's grand final rematch against the Storm in Melbourne due to the short turnaround.
"He trained this morning, but we'll just wait and see," Hasler said.
"It's round two and it's such a long season. So we'll judge it on its merits."
Barba didn't come out to watch his teammates beat the Eels 20-16 at ANZ Stadium on Thursday night, with Hasler saying he believed it was for the best.
"Ben has done extremely well in showing great conviction to do what he did and the great thing about it now is he has a fantastic safety net around him," Hasler said.
"There's no need to rush Ben back. I don't know when he'll play but he will play at some stage."
Captain Michael Ennis said it was good to see him back with the side.
"Steps are in place for him to keep working away," he said.
Comeback ... The Bulldogs hope to see Ben Barba back in action as soon as possible. Source:News Limited
Rugby league has become a vital part of Ben Barba's healing, doctors told the troubled star hours before he was discharged from a northern beaches rehabilitation clinic.
Canterbury CEO Todd Greenberg personally collected Barba from the drug and alcohol rehab centre before driving directly to Belmore where Bulldogs players were concluding a training session before Thursday night's match against Parramatta at ANZ Stadium.
Barba addressed his teammates and spoke passionately about returning to rugby league.
"After such an intensive two-week live-in period, the specialist's advice was that it would be counter-productive for Ben to remain isolated from football," Greenberg said.
"It's nice to know rugby league is actually part of the solution for Ben.
"It's been a tough couple of weeks for him but it was nice to see him in front of his teammates again. It was important that the first thing he did was address his teammates."
Talk around the Belmore dressingroom is that Barba will be back in the NRL within two to four weeks.
One club source said: "He apologised for letting the team down. He was honest and sincere. Ben said he wants to come back and would need the support of the players."
"It is great to be back at Belmore," Barba said in a Bulldogs statement.
"The time away from footy has been helpful but I have missed it. It will be great to be around my teammates again. I have missed their company over the past few weeks and can't wait to get back out on to the training field.
"I have learnt an enormous amount in the last few weeks and know I have lots of hard work and sacrifice in front of me over the next few years."
Barba will return to training with Canterbury this weekend although head coach Des Hasler would not reveal exactly when the star fullback would play again.
"We won't be rushing him back for the sake of it. We will continue to be guided by the medical experts and will heed their advice," Hasler said.
Canterbury's board will consult independent specialists and the club's medical staff before determining when Barba will return.
Barba will take at least a week to regain fitness.
Ben Barba ... Bulldogs will find mit very hard to replace their mercurial fullback.Source: DEAN LEWINS / AAP
Canterbury-Bankstown's decision to suspend Ben Barba indefinitely as he fights to overcome his personal demons has the potential to destroy the Bulldogs as a premiership force.
That is the cruel reality now confronting the Belmore club if crucial statistics from last season are anything to go by.
Bulldogs club boss Todd Greenberg has already vowed to give Barba as long as it takes to recover from his alcohol, gambling and anger issues.
While Greenberg refuses to allow football to come before Barba's health, Fox Sports Stats have highlighted just how big an impact Barba's absence is going to have on last year's grand finalists.
The Dally M Medal winner last year led the way for the Bulldogs in almost every vital attacking statistic - and was right up there with the most important players in any NRL team.
Barba scored 22 tries for the Bulldogs last year and made 23 try assists, 27 linebreaks and 22 linebreak assists. In all four categories it was the most of any player at the club.
To put it in perspective, of the Bulldogs' 110 tries scored last season, Barba either scored or directly created 45 of them - a staggering 40.9 per cent. That is the third-highest of any player from any club.
Barba also made, or directly created, 49 of the Bulldogs' 138 linebreaks - the second best figure of any player.
Fox Sports Stats' Aaron Wallace explained it perfectly: "It would be like the Tigers losing Benji Marshall for the year, or North Queensland losing Johnathan Thurston."
Look how Melbourne struggled last year when they didn't have Billy Slater, or the Dragons without Darius Boyd.
It doesn't matter who replaces Barba, his loss can't be overstated.
No doubt coach Des Hasler will come up with a plan to try to minimise the impact. But with pre-season all but completed, the decision to stand him down will be impossible to overcome in the short-term.
And as Greenberg said: "It could be six weeks, it could be six months."
This is the unknown they now have to deal with.
Six weeks, the Bulldogs have time to recover. Six months, they will struggle to keep pace with the best teams.
Last year Hasler overhauled the Bulldogs attack and, while their ball movement among the forwards was revolutionary, Barba's blistering speed was always the X factor.
The Bulldogs scored 24 tries from beyond halfway last season, easily the most of any team. Barba was involved in 18.
He also touched the ball 934 times, the most of any Bulldog besides hooker Michael Ennis.
More than Josh Reynolds, more than Kris Keating. Players mentioned as possible replacements include Krisnan Inu, Steve Turner, Sam Perrett and Mitch Brown.
Moving Josh Morris to fullback is another option that has real merit.
But as the stats show, there is only one Ben Barba.
Ben Barba ... was seen betting in Goulburn prior to last weekend's trial match.Source:News Limited
Gambling took such a grip on Ben Barba's life that he would argue with his ex-partner over money and borrow cash from Canterbury-Bankstown teammates.
A day after the Bulldogs suspended the reigning Dally M medallist, finer details about the extent of his behavioural demons started to emerge, including:
- Being forced to apologise to a Mackay publican last October, when he and older brother Aaron were involved in an altercation. The pair also exchanged abuse with Josh Hannay on the street, branding the former Maroons centre a "has-been".
- Bulldogs officials monitoring Barba's membership of Cronulla-based party group, the Epic Bender Crew (EBC), since Christmas.
- Borrowing cash from Canterbury teammates at Sydney pubs while gambling on the TAB or poker machines. Witnesses have also told of arguments on the phone Barba had with his former partner, Ainslie Currie, about money.
- Weeks of uncharacteristic behaviour at training that led to prop Tim Browne challenging Barba about his attitude. The fullback responded angrily, but there was no physical altercation.
- Barba playing poker machines on three separate occasions during last weekend's visit to Goulburn, including an afternoon stint at The Exchange Hotel that did not conclude until three hours before the start of Canterbury's trial against Canberra.
Before Sunday's crisis meeting at Bulldogs HQ, Currie had kept the club informed about Barba's decline every day.
"Ben has asked for privacy from the Bulldogs and the media and I guess it's my turn to let people know that I am fine," Currie said.
"I am not physically hurt but dealing with a very personal situation that involves my children and myself."
There's no doubt that the lure of the punt drove Barba.
A source close to Barba said the 23-year-old bet on all three racing codes - trots, greyhounds and thoroughbreds - with the TAB.
"That was the disturbing thing; he would just bet on every single race available," the publican said.
"He'd also borrow money from his teammates when they were with him at the pub.
"There were also arguments over the phone with Ainslie about getting more money, because she would control his income to make sure they had enough."
Goulburn locals were given an insight into Barba's gambling last Friday and Saturday, when he visited the Empire and Exchange Hotels to play the pokies with teammates.
Exchange publican Rob Sullivan confirmed Barba and about six teammates gambled in his pub for most of Saturday afternoon, ahead of their 22-18 trial loss to the Raiders.
"Ben had a bit of a win and they were all perfectly behaved," Sullivan said.
"They were very polite to the customers. I couldn't fault them."
The windfall, however, did not improve Barba's mood.
Just hours later Barba told a Bulldogs trainer he didn't wish to play beyond half-time, the critical moment that triggered Canterbury's decision to hold the truth meeting the next morning.
Greenberg confirmed Barba's link to the EBC was raised at the meeting.
The link appears to be former under-20s teammate Daniel Folkes, the son of ex-Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes.
Efforts to gain a response through Daniel Folkes's lawyer were not returned.
"We were made aware of (the EBC) in late 2012," Greenberg said.
"There are always concerns about the type of personalities that contracted players align themselves with. It certainly heightened our awareness (of Barba's issues). We kept a close watching brief on it."
Ben Barba ... remains in the new NRL campaign.Source:Fox Sports
The NRL says it is prepared to roll the dice and keep stricken superstar Ben Barba in its million-dollar advertising campaign - but purely on the advice of the Bulldogs.
Jessica Mauboy's pulsating dance anthem Something's Got a Hold on Me will be unleashed at tonight's season launch at The Star, with Barba's brilliant effort in setting up an unforgettable try against Melbourne one of the highlights in the television advertisement.
What has been left on the editing room floor is the part when Mauboy belts out the line: "I shake all over, but I feel all right."
In the original version, Barba - who has been stood down indefinitely after revelations of alcohol and gambling issues - mouths the same line in a close-up shot. "We amended that clip, given the circumstances of Monday and his state of health," NRL marketing director Paul Kind said.
While the NRL was prepared to make that call, there can be little dispute it has entrusted the Bulldogs with the credibility of its campaign. The decision to keep Barba in the advertisement, which sees some plays from the game's leading lights end up in the hands of young fans walking down the street or on the beach, was reached after Kind and NRL chief executive Dave Smith met with Bulldogs officials on Monday.
Smith then briefed the ARL Commission about the entire Barba issue.
Asked if the NRL was concerned it might be embarrassed down the track if more detail about Barba's suspension emerges, Kind said: "I have a simple answer to the Ben Barba situation. We asked the Bulldogs if it would be appropriate if we left him in, and they were comfortable with that decision.
"Any decision to not include Ben Barba would've brought more profile rather than less. Leaving him in based on what we know from the Bulldogs is the right thing to do."
NRL Preview Show: At 5.30pm (EDT) on Wednesday on Fox Sports News (Ch.513), Join Matt Russell and Mark Gasnier as they look ahead to another big season. They’ll examine all the big team changes for 2013, look back on last year’s season-defining moments, provide SuperCoach advice and much more. The show is repeated that night at 10:30pm and 7:30am on Thursday.
Despite the so-called curse on the face of the game, the NRL has only once been forced to amend its television campaign. That came in 2009 when Manly's Brett Stewart was charged with sexual assault. He was later acquitted.
The Barba controversy comes as the NRL attempts to make a broad engagement with the community, with $20 million in contra from the $1 billion broadcast deal helping spread the game's message. Mauboy herself is a vastly different tack, replacing Bon Jovi's Our House campaign.
A Cowboys fan still grumpy about her side's controversial finals exit against Manly last year, the 23-year-old played a large role in choosing the song, which is a remake of the classic Etta James song.
"As soon as I heard it, I knew it," she said. "I wanted to create a modern version of that song ... I'm stunned to be involved. I've always felt a connection with league."
Asked what Etta James would think about her song being used to promote rugby league, she laughed: "She would give me that momma look."
Dad Ferdy is also a massive league fan. Mauboy explained: "He rang me up the other day and went quiet, and then said: 'So, tickets eh?' "
Superstar Ben Barba ... on track to securing a Queensland Origin jersey.Source: Dave Hunt / AAP
Ben Barba only needs 12 good performances and his name will be stitched on a Maroons jersey.
Queensland coach Mal Meninga has gave his strongest hint yet that electric Canterbury fullback and Dally M medallist Barba will make his Maroons debut this year.
Barba scored a hat-trick of tries for the Indigenous team in the All Stars clash earlier this month, continuing his lethal run of form.
Meninga said Barba only needed to play consistently before Origin I and a position would be found for him in the team.
There are 12 NRL games before the Origin series kicks off at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.
"He needs to back up his form from last year and keep that consistency going," Meninga said.
"If he does that it will be really hard to leave him out. We will have to find a position for him somewhere."
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Barba was in the Maroons camp last year for Games Two and Three and was considered to replace injured Billy Slater in the deciding game.
That duty ultimately went to Greg Inglis, with Dane Nielsen used in the centres.
"He's putting a lot of pressure on the current Origin side," Meninga said.
"I was pretty impressed when he came into camp last year.
"He's starting to mature as a young adult and he's saying all the right things."
There is no chance of Barba unseating Slater as Maroons custodian.
His only chance of being in the team is on the wing or as an impact weapon off the bench.
Slater has played hooker during games before when Cameron Smith moves to lock and such a positional swap would allow Barba to be fullback, adding lethal strike power late on in a close game.
Meninga last year preferred to use a backrower - Dave Taylor then Matt Gillett - as his interchange option.
Before that it was Cooper Cronk and Karmichael Hunt.
Barba would likely serve a similar role to North Queensland fullback Matt Bowen, who played eight of his 10 Origin games off the bench.
Master coach Wayne Bennett said at last month's Emerging Origin camp that Barba was charting a similar path to representative stardom as Slater.
A decade ago, Slater was among a rookie batch of Origin hopefuls mentored by Bennett at Queensland's Academy of Sport.
Within 12 months, Slater had broken into the Queensland team and is now the code's pre-eminent fullback.
