Cowboys keen on their new fullback

COWBOYS hierarchy say Ben Barba has been a revelation since arriving at the club and have given the former Dally M star hope of a long- term deal to finish his career in North Queensland.

After a two- year absence from the NRL, Barba has been training at the Cowboys for the past fortnight and has made an instant impression with teammates ahead of his comeback in 2019.

Despite his lengthy hiatus from the premiership, Barba will be a key member of North Queensland’s starting side next season, installed in their playmaking spine in the No. 1 jumper made famous by Matt Bowen.

Barba turns 30 next June and if there were any concerns over his speed and zip as he enters the back end of his NRL career, they have been dispelled by the start to his preseason in the searing Townsville heat.

“We have been delighted with how Ben has settled in,” said Cowboys head- of- football Peter Parr.

“We’ve been really impressed with him. It’s only been a couple of weeks so far but Ben can’t have done any more than what he has to impress everybody.

“He has trained really well and fitted in. He has been terrific around the players who have accepted him without a problem.”

Mindful of his chequered past, the Cowboys have minimised any risk by only handing Barba a 12- month contract.

The short- term deal was also viewed as a way for the club to temporarily fill a backline void with a view to signing Cronulla and Queensland Origin ace Valentine Holmes for the 2020 season.

But Holmes’s bombshell decision on Tuesday to quit the NRL and try his luck at cracking the NFL has opened the door for Barba to extend his tenure in Townsville.

Parr said the Cowboys were prepared to consider a longer term deal for Barba if he could bury his demons from former club Cronulla and reprise his attacking brilliance next season.

“We’ve signed him to a oneyear deal but there’s every chance Ben could be here longer,” he said.

“Physically, he is in good shape.’’

BEN CAN’T HAVE DONE ANY MORE THAN WHAT HE HAS TO IMPRESS EVERYBODY PETER PARR