{"id":252018,"date":"2025-10-31T00:16:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T00:16:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/252018\/"},"modified":"2025-10-31T00:16:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T00:16:08","slug":"ben-barba-announces-rugby-league-retirement-nrl-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/252018\/","title":{"rendered":"Ben Barba announces rugby league retirement – NRL News"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The 2012 Dally M medallist, Ben Barba<\/a>, has decided to hang up the boots on his rugby league career after almost 30 years in the sport.<\/p>\n

A one-time premiership with the Cronulla Sharks<\/a>, Barba is fondly remembered for his time with the Canterbury Bulldogs<\/a>, in which he was recognised as one of the NRL’s premium elite players of the competition and even won the Dally M medal in only his fifth season.<\/p>\n

Barba also had a stint with the Brisbane Broncos<\/a> in 2014 and was in the North Queensland Cowboys<\/a> squad in 2019, but failed to register a match for them before being cut.<\/p>\n

Last playing in the NRL<\/a> in 2016, he recorded 168 matches and 99 tries across nine seasons.<\/p>\n

A six-time Indigenous All Stars representative, he also won the Man of Steel Award in 2018 for St Helens<\/a> RLFC – the Super League<\/a>\u00a0equivalent to the Dally M Medal – and had a brief stint in rugby union for Toulon.<\/p>\n

More recently, he played for the Sarina Crocodiles and South Sharks who play in the A-Grade Men’s division in the Rugby League<\/a>\u00a0Mackay and District competition.<\/p>\n

“I’m sure a lot of you know but this is me! To think after almost 30 years I’m leaving the game that gave me everything,” Barba posted on social media.<\/p>\n

“So much love and appreciation to all my loved ones that have been there along this incredible journey.<\/p>\n

“I wanted this to be short and sharp so thankyou. BB out.”<\/p>\n


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