LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Ben Barba, the 2012 Dally M medallist, has announced his retirement from rugby league after nearly three decades in the sport.
Barba, who achieved a premiership with the Cronulla Sharks, is particularly celebrated for his tenure with the Canterbury Bulldogs. During this time, he was acknowledged as one of the NRL's elite players and won the prestigious Dally M medal in just his fifth season.
His career also included a brief period with the Brisbane Broncos in 2014, and he was part of the North Queensland Cowboys squad in 2019, although he did not feature in any matches before being released.
Barba last played in the NRL in 2016, amassing a total of 168 matches and 99 tries over nine seasons.
A six-time Indigenous All Stars representative, Barba also received the Man of Steel Award in 2018 while playing for St Helens RLFC, which is the Super League's equivalent of the Dally M Medal. Additionally, he had a short stint in rugby union with Toulon.
Recently, he played for the Sarina Crocodiles and South Sharks in the A-Grade Men's division of the Rugby League Mackay and District competition.
"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 shared on social media.