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Ben Barba arrested in fresh drama for disgraced NRL star

Ben Barba, pictured here in action for St Helens in 2018.
Ben Barba in action for St Helens in 2018. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)

Ben Barba has reportedly been arrested after an altercation with his brother-in-law in Mackay.

According to the Courier Mail, Barba was arrested and charged last Friday after punching the brother of his partner Ainslie Currie.

The incident is said to have taken place at a Mackay pub.

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In March last year the disgraced NRL star was ordered to perform 150 hours of community service following an incident at a Townsville casino which cost him his lucrative sporting career.

The 2012 Dally M medallist pleaded guilty to charges of public nuisance and obstructing police when he faced Mackay Magistrate Court.

The 30-year-old was sacked by the North Queensland Cowboys in February 2018 without playing a game over allegations he was violent towards Currie in the Australia Day incident.

Ms Currie did not press charges.

Ainslie Curry and Ben Barba, pictured here at the 2012 NRL Dally M Awards.
Ainslie Curry and Ben Barba at the 2012 NRL Dally M Awards. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Barba had been offered a lifeline to return to the NRL with the Cowboys after stints with French rugby union and the English Super League.

However, the NRL gave the father of four a lifetime ban after viewing CCTV footage of the incident outside the casino.

Barba’s footy career in tatters

Having debuted in 2008, Barba led Canterbury to the grand final that year before his career first spiralled out of control.

He was stood down by the Bulldogs to seek help for alcohol and gambling issues, amid rumours of a domestic violence incident.

News Corp published photos of his partner with cuts and bruises to her face, however, she made no complaint to the NRL or the club.

After a stint at Brisbane in 2014, Barba played a leading part in Cronulla’s 2016 grand final win, scoring a decisive try in the first-half.

But trouble soon followed as he was suspended for 12 weeks when he recorded his second illicit drugs strike after the Sharks’ premiership celebrations.

with AAP