Despite his try, Barba looked off the pace in his first game in 11 months ED SYKES/ACTION IMAGESBen Barba’s first game of rugby league since helping Cronulla Sharks win the Australian Grand Final 11 months ago was a mixed bag for a St Helens side, whose hopes of reaching Old Trafford suffered a significant blow at the hands of their arch rivals. Barba’s brief spell in French rugby union did not work out and his Saints debut was delayed for three months by a ban for cocaine use. The try that he scored was somewhat fortuitous and he was caught out by the speed of the game at times, while still showing tantalising glimpses of what made him the NRL player of the year in 2012. Ultimately, he was upstaged by Sam Tomkins, his opposite number at full back, as Wigan bounced…

Source: The Times September 01, 2017 23:15 UTC