BARBA, HOLMES SOUNDS GOOD
RUGBY LEAGUE: Brisbane Broncos legend Steve Renouf believes Ben Barba and Valentine Holmes can co-exist at the Cowboys and has put the onus on Barba to give the club little option but to re-sign him after 2019.
The superstar fullback will return to the NRL in 2019 after a two-year absence, having completed his commitments to St Helens in an 18-13 Super League semi-final loss to Warrington early yesterday morning.
The 2012 Dally M medallist has signed for just one year with North Queensland and knows the ball is in his court to prove himself again. “It’s a risk for myself going back there (NRL) – in a year I could find myself on the scrap heap,” the 29-year-old Barba said recently.
The perception has been Barba is an ideal stop-gap measure as the Cowboys aggressively pursue Cronulla fullback and Townsville product Holmes on a huge contract from 2020.
But Renouf insists the pair could forge a dynamic double punch down back for the Cowboys as they look to rebuild after missing the finals for the first time in eight years.
However, both will be keen to play fullback and salary cap issues could also prevent them joining forces.
“We all know what Benny can do, and he’s been doing it over there,” Renouf said yesterday in Townsville. “He’ll have a lot of knockers and I hope he gets here and plays good footy, and all the critics will go away.
“Val’s shown he can play across the back anywhere. I’m pretty sure they’d find room for both.
“If he (Barba) doesn’t stay here (Townsville), but I’m sure if he has a good season he will, he’ll be able to at least pick up a decent contract somewhere else.”