Ben Barba's demons: Disgraced footy star reveals the 'mistake that cost him everything' and breaks his silence about the string of scandals that forced him out of the NRL forever
- Ben Barba has broken his silence over scandals that forced him out of the NRL
- The former Dally M player of the year, 30, was sacked by the Cowboys in 2019
- He had been involved in a physical altercation with his partner Ainslie Currie
- Barba said he no one else to blame but himself for the end of his footy career
Banned NRL star Ben Barba has broken his silence over a string of scandals that forced him out of the league and revealed the moment he 'f***ed it for himself'.
The former Dally M player of the year was sacked by the North Queensland Cowboys and banned from the NRL in February 2019 after an investigation revealed he had been involved in a physical altercation with his partner Ainslie Currie on Australia Day.
The 30-year-old spoke candidly about his fall from grace with T.I. Talks Footy on Sunday night and told host Tye Ingebrigsten he had no one else to blame but himself for the end of his footy career.
'I lost my head and made a mistake that cost me everything and brought me home to Mackay,' Barba said.
Ben Barba (pictured with Ainslie Curry) has broken his silence over a string of scandals that forced him out of the league
Barba is pictured celebrating the crowd after winning the 2016 NRL Grand Final with the sharks. He was released by the club days after he tested positive to a banned substance
'I did things that weren't right and stuff that I'm not very proud of that cost me my career. At the end of the day it's no one's fault but mine.'
Barba said he was keen to get back on the footy field in a local league before landing himself in further trouble.
He was arrested in February after allegedly punching his brother-in-law Adrian Currie in a Mackay pub.
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'I was banned from the NRL but not from playing local league. I was close to being able to be registered again this year but again, got into a bit of trouble again and sort of f***ed it for myself again,' he said.
Barba said he was now forced to 'work through' his situation.
He remains hopeful an opportunity could come forward to play locally next year but admits he needs to keep his 'head straight' and stay out of trouble.
Last February, Daily Mail Australia revealed Barba had started working a $20-an-hour job as a metal worker after losing his Cowboys contract
Barba confronted a journalist outside the metal working factory in March (pictured)
Barba said it would be 'fun' to see how he would go playing again after more than a year off the pitch.
Barba's $300,000 contract with the Cowboys was torn up after allegations he had assaulted Ms Currie at Townsville's Ville Resort Casino on Australia Day last year.
Barba pleaded guilty in May of last year to two counts of public nuisance over the Townsville casino incident.
He issued the same plea for obstructing police after they were called to his home in East Mackay to reports he was intoxicated.
No conviction was recorded but Barba was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid community service in the next 12 months.
Last February, Daily Mail Australia revealed Barba had started working a $20-an-hour job as a metal worker after losing his Cowboys contract.
Barba was sacked by the North Queensland Cowboys and banned from the NRL in February 2019 after an investigation revealed he had been involved in a physical altercation with his partner Ainslie Currie (left) on Australia Day
He told Tye Ingebrigsten he had no one else to blame but himself for the end of his footy career. Barba is pictured with his children
He confronted a journalist outside the metal working factory in March.
'I will hurt you. Do you want me to hurt you?' he shouted at the Nine News reporter.
'I'm about to be charged with nothing (but) I don't feel lucky. I've lost everything.'
The ex-footy star's checkered history in the NRL include being released by Cronulla in 2016 after it emerged he had tested positive for cocaine four days after the grand final.
Barba told T.I. Talks Footy he 'got caught up in the midst of winning a premiership' and would often 'stuff up' when things were going well in his career.
