CONTROVERSIAL Cronulla premiership winner Ben Barba has just returned to Sydney after a stint in a Thailand rehabilitation clinic and speculation about his immediate playing future is the hottest topic in rugby league.

Reports are already linking him with a possible move to Japanese rugby and the appeal of starting afresh in a new country will be hard to resist, given it is out of the NRL’s jurisdiction, where Barba is facing a 12-week ban after recording a second positive test to cocaine, should he choose to return.

However, according to Barba’s close friend and premiership teammate Jack Bird, the speculation can end.

Speaking to media at Wednesday’s NRL Auckland Nines jersey launch, Bird was adamant Barba would be back in Sharks colours in 2017, with a new deal for the Dally M Medallist imminent.

Round 20

“One-hundred per cent (Barba will be back),” Bird said.

“I know he will be. And we need him back and he will be back and like I said he’ll be better than he was before.”

Jack Bird embraces then teammate Ben Barba. Source: News Corp Australia

A return to Cronulla has been considered a possibility since the club released Barba so he could “focus on himself” following his second strike to the NRL’s illicit drug policy.

That positive test assures that Barba will serve a 12-week suspension with any NRL club starting the moment he signs a new contract.

Taking out half the 2017 season is guaranteed to put Barba on a massively downgraded contract from the marquee deal he was on with the Sharks in 2015 and 2016.

So if they can pick him up again, and assuming the NRL agrees to register a new contract, it would be a big win for the premiers at a time when every dollar saved is crucial, with so many of their stars, including Bird, off-contract at the end of 2017.

All that’s beside the point for Bird, who says he just wants to do everything he can to support a mate who has had a rollercoaster career since rising to prominence with an outstanding individual season for the Bulldogs in 2012.

This time last year, Bird was in a three-way battle for the Cronulla No.1 jersey, with he and Valentine Holmes eventually losing out to Barba.

Bird is happy to concede that Holmes will start 2017 at fullback but says that will prove to be a temporary move with Barba to regain the jersey by mid-season.

Ben Barba played a big part in Cronulla’s 2016 success. Source: News Corp Australia

“That’s Val’s preferred position I guess,” Bird said.

“I think Val will take it with both hands and I’m thinking he’ll be good at fullback but in saying that we’ll get Benny back in the middle of the year.

“Benny will be back and he’ll be back bigger and better than ever.

“He’s doing well, so it’s good to hear and just like I said before he’ll be back 100 per cent and he’ll be back ready to go.

“He means a lot (to the club) obviously. He got us to a grand final, so he obviously means a lot to our club and our team and to the players and the fans.

“We will miss him the first three months of the footy season but I’ll say it again, he will be back.”

The writer is on Twitter @glover_benny

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