St Helens v Wigan: Debut timing ideal for Saints' Ben Barba
Last Updated: 01/09/17 7:39pm
Ben Barba admits the timing could hardly be better as he prepares to make his eagerly-awaited St Helens debut, live on Sky Sports Arena from 7.30pm on Friday.
The 28-year-old Australian full-back became Super League's latest marquee player in May after signing a two-and-a-half-year deal with St Helens, but was forced to sit on the sidelines for three months after his new club failed to overturn a 12-match drugs ban.
The 2012 NRL player of the year will now make his bow in the heat of a derby battle with reigning champions Wigan, which could go a long way to determining the semi-final line-up.
"It's like it's been set up," Barba said. "I'm just glad it's being played here and not at their stadium because we'll have a lot more fans than they will.
"Obviously you want to play in the big games and against the best and there's no better game to do it. I guess whoever wins this game will put them in good stead for the next couple of weeks. We'll definitely do our best to take it away from them."
Barba joined Saints on the eve of the Wigan home game at the end of May, and is acutely aware of the unique rivalry between these two proud clubs.
"Some of the boys have told me a little bit about it and I've done my own homework by watching a few YouTube clips of games from the past, so I've seen how fiery some of the clashes were back then," said the former Canterbury Bulldogs, Brisbane and Cronulla favourite.
"I'm not sure if they are that wild now but it's definitely something I'm looking forward to being part of.
"We have rivalry in Australia but it's probably not the same, the towns are so close to each other. This will be a lot different and a lot better."
Barba's last rugby league match was the 2016 NRL Grand Final in which he scored the try that put the Sharks on their way to a 14-12 victory over Melbourne.
He turned down Warrington after being released from his lucrative but short-lived stint with French rugby union club Toulon and is now hoping to make up for lost time.
"It has been one of the longest pre-seasons I've ever had," he joked. "Hopefully I haven't forgotten too much.
"Everything from now on is business, I don't think we can't afford to lose another game if we have any chance of making the top four. It's between Wakey and us really.
"I don't want to just play four games and be back in pre-season again."
Barba has been handed the full-back role by St Helens coach Justin Holbrook, with England number one Jonny Lomax moving to stand-off, and is keen to justify the controversial selection.
"It's sort of like I'm jumping on the train while it's already moving," he said. "It's hard to come into a side when all the guys are working really hard and I could possibly come in and play four games and play in a final.
"The team is really embracing me being here. I feel a part of this side and I'd like to repay them by playing good footy and help them get into the finals."
St Helens: Kyle Amor, Ben Barba, Luke Douglas, Theo Fages, Regan Grace, Morgan Knowles, Matty Lees, Jonny Lomax, Tommy Makinson, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Ryan Morgan, Mark Percival, Dominique Peyroux, James Roby, Matty Smith, Zeb Taia, Luke Thompson, Alex Walmsley, Jon Wilkin.
Wigan Warriors: John Bateman, Joe Burgess, Tony Clubb, Liam Farrell, Anthony Gelling, Oliver Gildart, Nick Gregson, Willie Isa, Thomas Leuluai, Liam Marshall, Michael Mcilorum, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Sean O'Loughlin, Sam Powell, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Sam Tomkins, Jack Wells, George Williams.