Ben Barba escapes assault conviction after stunning fall from grace
Former NRL star Ben Barba has escaped conviction for assaulting his brother-in-law and breaching bail.
The ex-footy player arrived in Mackay Magistrates Court today to learn his fate after pleading guilty to three charges: assault occasioning bodily harm, breaching bail conditions and failing to complete a community service order.
Barba was slapped with $1500 in fines and ordered to pay $1000 to the victim, Adrian Currie, who he reportedly punched in the head in February.
Magistrate James Morton pointed out Barba’s fall from grace in his sentencing remarks, asking if it felt like he’d “gone from the penthouse to the s***house” after spending a night in custody.
“You had everything given to you and you threw it away,” Mr Morton said. “All the negative attention has been brought by you at your own doing.”
Barba was stood down by the Bulldogs early in 2013 for behavioural issues and in 2014 moved to Brisbane for one season.
He won the 2016 premiership with Cronulla but was banned from the NRL for 12 matches after testing positive to cocaine in the wake of the grand final victory.
The talented fullback, who won the Dally M Medal in 2012, went to France to play rugby union but was sacked just three months after signing a two-year deal.
Barba then headed to the UK Super League, winning the Man of Steel award in 2018 as the competition’s best player, and returned home to North Queensland to play for the Cowboys in 2019.
However, he was punted before playing a game following allegations he assaulted his partner in a Townsville Casino in January of that year.
Barba was charged over the incident after handing himself in to police, and was sentenced to community service after pleading guilty to public nuisance.
Despite all the missteps, Barba remains hopeful of continuing his rugby league career in Spain with Valencia Hurricanes, which played a part in Mr Morton sparing him of a conviction for the assult and breaching bail in July.
Barba’s lawyer Campbell Maccallum said the footy star was grateful for his lifeline.
“He is a young Indigenous man with a lot of talent who certainly is hoping to further his career in rugby league,” Maccallum said.
“Whether that be in Spain or Australia or in the Super League competition.
“That (a conviction) would have impeded his progress to Spain and certainly travel overseas.
“There’s a clause in the contract which does say if an NRL club or Super League approaches him with a contract, that they will release him immediately.”
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