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Ben Barba arrested after allegedly assaulting brother-in-law

by
Callum Walker
December 2, 2021

Ben Barba has spent a second night in jail following the assault of his brother-in-law and will now face court on assault charges.

The former Dally M Medal and Man of Steel winner will appear at Mackay Local Court following his arrest and charge of assault occasioning bodily harm, with an investigation revealing Barba had been involved in a physical altercation with his partner Ainslie Currie and her brother, according to Fox Sports.

Barba was released by the Cronulla Sharks following their 2016 NRL premiership success after testing positive to cocaine, but was given a chance by Super League side St Helens at the back end of 2017.

His form at St Helens in 2018 earned him another NRL deal with the North Queensland Cowboys on $400,000 a year, but the elusive fullback was sacked before playing a game and banned from the NRL indefinitely.

That decision came after footage emerged of Barba in an alleged “physical altercation” with his partner Ms Currie, who then refused to press charges.

The fullback was linked with a move to play rugby league in America earlier this year, but has more recently been rumoured to be nearing an NRL return with a train-and-trial deal looking the most likely.

However, that potential deal has now been scuppered with a conviction for assault occasioning actual bodily harm carrying a maximum penalty of seven years jail.