PREMIERS Cronulla will shortly announce they have re-signed suspended fullback Ben Barba as the club manoeuvres to fast-track his return to training.
But with the 2012 Dally Medallist serving a 12-game suspension for a positive cocaine test the NRL is expected to stand firm and maintain Barba is banned from training.
The Sharks are expected to push for the World Club Challenge and Auckland Nines to count as part of Barba’s suspension.
But the NRL is again expected to ignore this request and insist the earliest Barba can return is round 13 this year.
The champion fullback was hit with a 12-match ban and fined five percent of his annual salary after returning a positive test for cocaine after grand final celebrations.
It was Barba’s second strike in terms of positive tests, with the Sharks opting to tear up his existing contract last year.
Barba has since been to a rehabilitation facility in Thailand and also worked on a building site.
A few interesting ones there.