Ben Barba reveals he nearly joined two other Super League clubs as legends proved key to St Helens switch

Ben Barba is one of the few men to win both the Man of Steel and the NRL equivalent the Dally M Medal.

He won the Man of Steel award as he shone at St Helens starring as Saints turned things around in 2017 prior to helping them to the League Leaders’ Sheild 2018.

He ultimately facilitated the move of Jonny Lomax back to the halves and was eventually replaced by Lachlan Coote in 2019.

But he very nearly joined other Super League sides in the shape of Warrington Wolves and Catalans Dragons.

Speaking on the Yeah Nice Sports Podcast, he said: “They have the Magic Weekend over there up in Newcastle so I flew over.

“My manager was over there, but a couple of clubs flew me over to meet with them these were Catalans, Warrington and St Helens.”

He revealed how two legendary players were key to his decision to join the Saints in a move that would help determine the club’s future despite the fact he would not go on to win a Grand Final with the club:

“I chose St Helens in the end because, being a footy tragic, everything about it was right. There was Sean Long and Paul Wellens.

“I had watched them early on. They all worked at the club. I was there supposedly to meet clubs, my manager was over there because it is a big weekend with it being the Magic Weekend.”