BARBA PLANNING GRAND FAREWELL

BEN BARBA knows some fans will think he is “deserting” St Helens – but he wants to leave them with the present of a Grand Final win.

Aussie Barba finally ended non-stop speculation about his future when he confirmed a move to North Queensland Cowboys last month, despite being contracted for next season.

Now that is out in the open, he says he can focus on helping the club lift their first title since 2014 ahead of Thursday’s semi-final against Warrington.

Barba (below) said: “That’s the goal, and that’s what I say to most of the fans in the street.

“That was my main drive when I came here, to leave a mark on the team and the club, and not just come here and mess around for a year and then take off.

“It is mixed emotions. I’m trying not to think about it – I got a bit emotional the other night when I got up at the presentation.

“I’ve said it from the start that this place has meant a lot to me.

“It might feel like I’m deserting them, but at the end of the day I was homesick and I was struggling.

“I was thinking more about going home than being here sometimes.

“And it was better for me to go instead of staying around, kicking stones and not putting 100 per cent in for St Helens.”

Barba was yesterday one of seven St Helens players named in this year’s Dream Team (above). Fellow semifinalists Warrington and Castleford were both overlooked.

Betfred Super League Dream Team: Barba, Makinson, Percival (all St Helens), Tupou, Johnstone (Wakefield), Lomax, Richardson, Thompson, Roby (all St Helens), Casty (Catalans), Bateman (Wigan), Ashurst (Wakefield), O’Loughlin (Wigan).