UPDATE:
Cronulla have confirmed they have offered a one-year contract to Ben Barba.
The contract will be submitted to the NRL for approval and registration after the Sharks met with Barba and his management.
The club said in a statement that Barba had “worked diligently on making his return to the NRL a reality and is continuing his well-being program.”
“Should his contract be ratified and accepted the club will work with the NRL Integrity Unit to determine a time frame for Barba’s integration back into the Sharks NRL program and in relation to his return to training.”
EARLIER STORY:
Ben Barba could still play for Cronulla this season with the club to announce they have offered the star fullback a new one-year contract.
Barba had his contract terminated after he tested positive to cocaine in the days after Cronulla’s historic first grand final win over Melbourne in October.
Barba has been banned from training with the Sharks until his 12-match ban is complete.
The club had originally hoped the Auckland Nines and the World Club Challenge would count as matches in the ban, but that is now looking unlikely. The club is waiting for confirmation from the NRL.
The contract still needs to be accepted by the NRL, with Barba de-registered after his latest indiscretion.
The positive test was Barba’s second, prompting Cronulla to terminate his contract.
The club are expected to confirm the news this afternoon.
Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan is looking at a selection headache until Barba’s potential return, with his absence forcing a reshuffle of the Sharks backline.
The Sharks’ star right side combination of centre Jack Bird and winger Valentine Holmes are vying to replace Barba. With either moving to fullback it would break up that lethal combination, bringing most likely Gerard Beale in as a replacement, as well as the need to build new combinations around the incoming fullback.