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.
David Klemmer ... young gun out to make an impression with the Bulldogs.Source:News Limited
As a boy, David Klemmer was such a fanatical Canterbury-Bankstown fan that he slept under a Bulldogs bedspread.
Now all his dreams have really come true.
On top of being named to make his NRL debut this weekend, the 19-year-old prop is also celebrating a new three-year contract extension worth close to $1 million.
Although he's yet to be tested in first grade, top judges have been drooling over Klemmer for years and he was easily the most coveted youngster on this year's open market.
Towering at 199cm and weighing 120kg, it's clear to see why, and the Australian Schoolboys graduate has consistently starred throughout his development and claimed the 2012 Toyota Cup Player of the Year award.
The Toongabbie junior also excelled at softball and shot put at Westfields Sports High.
Just as he did with Sam Kasiano a year ago, Knights coach Wayne Bennett had an almighty crack, along with several other clubs.
But they were all informed a fortnight ago that Klemmer had decided to remain at Canterbury - although the remarkable cash for a player so green would have made his decision an easier one.
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More difficult will be Saturday night's introduction to the elite level opposite the competition's best front-row pair: Cowboys duo James Tamou and Matt Scott.
Confronted with a distressing shortage up front, Bulldogs coach Des Hasler will summon the exciting prospect from the bench.
With James Graham (suspension), Sam Kasiano (shin splints) and Frank Pritchard (groin) all unavailable for at least a month, Klemmer will face his baptism of fire alongside fellow greenhorn props Tim Browne and Marty Taupau.
Partnering Aiden Tolman in the starting front row, Taupau has played just 10 first grade games, while Browne failed to add to his four NRL appearances last year.
But the most buzz at Bluetongue Stadium will surround Klemmer, who was snapped up by former Bulldogs recruitment man Peter Mulholland at just 15.
Klemmer was part of Parramatta's nursery at the time, but was frustrated because he couldn't progress from fourth to first division due to administrative red tape.
"He was too good to be playing fourth division back then and we offered him the opportunity to come to Canterbury on a three-year deal," Mulholland said.
"It helped that he was a massive Canterbury fan.
"I remember going to the family house and he even had a Bulldogs bedspread."
Tolman backed Klemmer to handle the steep rise he faces.
"He's very physical at training," Tolman said.
"He's that big and he's got plenty of aggression.
"He's got amazing talent for a young guy and everyone is talking him up.
"But he (Klemmer) can't worry about that.
"I suppose those things don't mean anything if you don't go out on the field and prove it.
"That's what he's got to do now. I'm sure he'll cause some damage no matter what grade he plays."
Hasler said Pritchard could've soldiered through, but club medicos have opted to rest him with the 26-week season in mind.
"He's coming off some post-season (groin) surgery," Hasler said.
"At a scratch he could've played but we would rather take the other road and get some running under his belt."
Winners ... Bulldogs' Luke Dahlhaus evades a Hawthorn tackle.Source: Michael Klein / News Limited
The fight the Western Bulldogs were missing for much of last AFL season has been rediscovered in a valiant one-point comeback NAB Cup win over Hawthorn.
The Bulldogs trailed by as many as 14 points midway through the last quarter before charging home to win 1.10.6 (75) to 2.8.8 (74) despite a fine five-goal performance from Hawk superstar Lance Franklin at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
The Hawks, winless so far in the pre-season, had their night further soured by having David Hale and Luke Breust limp off injured in the second half, while Dogs draftee Jake Stringer also hobbled off in the last term.
0.3.3 (21)
Q1
0.1.3 (9)
0.5.3 (33)
Q2
1.3.5 (32)
0.8.4 (52)
Q3
1.6.6 (51)
1.10.6 (75)
Q4
2.8.8 (74)
Ryan Griffen
2
Lance Franklin
4
Luke Dahlhaus
1
David Hale
2
Tory Dickson
1
Jarryd Roughead
1
Brett Goodes
1
Shane Savage
1
Jason Johannissen
1
Isaac Smith
1
Liam Jones
1
Robert Murphy
1
Clay Smith
1
Koby Stevens
1
Jake Stringer
1
Skipper Matthew Boyd (31 disposals) was excellent for the Bulldogs while youngster Clay Smith had a fine game and kicked a nine-point super goal to put his side in front in the last quarter.
But after Hawthorn's Jordan Lewis kicked a behind from what should have been a straightforward set shot, to level the scores, it was a poster from young tall forward Liam Jones that ended up deciding the game.
It was the Dogs' first win since midway through last season, with the club having lost their last 11 games last year.
They kicked the first three goals of the night, the first to Robert Murphy, who is expected to play mostly in attack this year and showed he will add spark.
Franklin kept the Hawks in touch with his side's only goal of the first term.
He also kicked the first of the second quarter then gave the Hawks the lead with a nine-pointer midway through the term, after shrugging off a tackle and taking a bounce.
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The Dogs edged back in front by halftime before Hawthorn looked set to blow them away with the first three goals of the second half.
A one-armed mark and goal from Bulldogs tall forward Liam Jones, who showed brighter signs in attack than he did for most of last year, narrowed the margin.
Stringer, playing his first game, then snapped cleverly to put the Dogs in front at the last change.
The Hawks again looked set to kill the contest when Jarryd Roughead booted a nine-pointer to start the last quarter and Franklin kicked two goals in two minutes soon after to push the lead to 16 points before the Dogs' decisive charge.
