In his corner: Ben Barba's parents, Ken and Kim, with the star's daughter Bronte. Photo: Chris Lane
Just days before Ben Barba's anticipated return to league, his mother has opened up about the heart-to-heart discussion she had with her son.
Kim Barba flew from Mackay to Sydney the day her son checked out of the northern beaches rehabilitation clinic a fortnight ago, and was greeted by a ''calmer'' version of the man she last saw.
With her son's career and life at a crossroads, Kim offered some motherly advice in what was an emotion-charged conversation with the Canterbury superstar, who, she said, would be given the final say on whether he's ready for a comeback to the game.
"I went down for about four days when he came out and it gave me the chance to have a bit of a one-on-one with him," she told Fairfax Media.
"When we finally got back to his place from the airport, we had a moment and it was very touching. I told him to keep up with his onward counselling and to just remember where he came from and what he stands for.
"I reminded him about all his family and how much support and love he had around him. I told him, 'You'll never be alone'."
His two-week stint in rehabilitation wasn't just beneficial to help him overcome his alcohol and gambling problems.
Barba, who in the space of 12 months became the game's pin-up boy, has long been considered a hothead on the football field and has a reputation in his home town of Mackay as someone who often lets his emotions spill over.
His inability to control his anger has often got him into trouble, including with teammates, which is why his mother was delighted to see a level-headed son when she stayed with him a fortnight ago.
''He was a bit calmer than usual,'' she said. ''He seemed to be a lot more positive about things and clearer about where he was headed. He was always a bit highly strung as a young boy. He was just a very competitive young fellow. But it was good to see he was a lot calmer when he came out.’’
She admitted the ordeal with her son has been ‘‘scary’’, but knows he has the ability to overcome the obstacle – at least when he puts his mind to it.
She said Barba’s break-up with high school sweetheart Ainslie Currie, the mother of his children, contributed to the 23-year-old’s growing dependence on alcohol and gambling.
‘‘You have to remember he’s still a young fellow with a family and small children,’’ his mother said. ‘‘[His break-up] was always going to have some sort of effect on him. He was trying to cope with it all. The drinking and gambling and trying to put everything in its rightful spot, he found that all very hard to come to terms with.’’
Kim, who has been in regular contact with Ben since flying back to Mackay, said she’s expecting a phone call from her son before Wednesday to tell her if he will face the Rabbitohs on Good Friday.
‘‘The Bulldogs are leaving that up to him and when he’s ready,’’ she said. ‘‘We’re just waiting for him to let us know for sure. Probably Wednesday at the latest he will call to tell us.’’
The Bulldogs, particularly boss Todd Greenberg, have received plenty of praise for the way they’ve handled the situation and Kim met Greenberg when she was last in Sydney to express her gratitude.
’’I’m definitely happy with the way the Bulldogs supported him,’’ she said. ‘‘I spoke to Todd when I went down there. He let me know that they are still there to support him, even though he isn’t playing.
‘‘They are right behind him and I’m very happy with what they’ve done for him.’’
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