What an absolute train wreck this Ben Barba contract situation has been.

There have been so many twists and turns that it is really hard to keep up with what the heck is happening.

Let’s make one thing clear from the outset, Ben Barba is no Mother Teresa. He is not a saint. Yes he has a checkered past and has experienced a rollercoaster career on and off the field.

The latest saga started back in November when Barba was sacked by the Sharks after recording a positive cocaine test.

He stuffed up but is not a ‘drug cheat’ something he is being labelled by sections of the Australian tabloid media. He tested positive to cocaine a recreational drug, not a performance enhancer like anabolic steroids. To his credit he was quick to own up to his mistake and take action heading overseas for rehab and taking up a labouring job upon his return.

“I know and accept I need to take some time away from the game to deal with some personal issues,” Barba said in a statement.

“I am accountable for myself and my actions and if I don’t address them now I will certainly ruin my career and more importantly my life and that of my family.”

“As footballers we often find it hard to speak up about having problems, but this decision has lifted so much pressure off myself that I cannot start to explain just how much better I feel by taking this action.”

Seventy-one days after releasing Barba, the Sharks threw out a lifeline by re-signing him. But there was a hurdle, the NRL delayed his registration over concerns his life off the field had not been sorted out.

Barba today opened up about his dialogue with the NRL after the bombshell was dropped yesterday that he will be joining French rugby side Toulon as he serves his 12 match NRL ban.

But the NRL have thrown a spanner in the works by saying Barba’s ban will not begin until he is finished with other sports. Essentially meaning he is a scratching for the entire season should he play for Toulon.

La star Australienne de rugby à XIII, Ben Barba s’engage avec le RCT pour cette fin de saison : https://t.co/OhebNiY9L4 — RCT – RC Toulon (@RCTofficiel) January 31, 2017

“The NRL haven’t given me too much. This is probably the first time I’ve talked since then,” Barba said.

“I’ve got to look after my kids and my family. They’re my first option.”

“If it comes to that, I might never play the game again,” he said.

“It’s taken them three months and nothing’s been sorted out. As I said, I’m just going along with the flow and listening to the guys that take care of me.”

It seems the NRL have their panties in a knot over Ben’s decision to play Union in France, thinking it makes a mockery of their ban.

“Ben does not have a registered contract with the NRL so he is free to make a decision to play in a different code with a new club,” NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said.

“But the NRL will not consider any contract for registration until he has completed his contract with other sports. The match suspension he needs to serve will only begin after he has completed his playing commitments elsewhere.”

Long story short, unless something changes drastically we are not going to see any of Ben Barba during the 2017 NRL season. Love him or hate him, he is one of the nation’s most talented players and we won’t be seeing any of him out on the field in 2017. Why? Well it would appear because the NRL wants to play politics and save face.

In doing so however they have robbed NRL fans of the chance to watch one of the games most gifted and talented players in 2017, unless they get a TV subscription to French rugby!

by Michael T. Lynch – contributor