I agree he would be a great signing and worth the risk, IMO. Fingers crossed we can get it done!

Why on earth would you pay marquee money £200k? to someone who has not played for yonks and was banned for life for multiple serious failures unlike the vast majority of our squad.Just not something we should even think about.
We could probably prise out a current Eng international from somewhere for less money and far less risk.
Under the new Brexit rules he would not get a visa hasn't Sam had the same problem at WBA stopping second raters coming over to take our jobs.

No where near a Marquee now. Lot to prove to take that status and wedge.

I don’t think he will be able to demand marquee money a few super league clubs are looking at him think we be the front runners

There are very few players of the quality of Ben Barba in Rugby League, only one other person has won the Dally M Medal and Man of Steel. He may be rusty, but he was in the same position when he joined St Helens and he took SL by storm. Off the field he has had problems and this is the reason why we are even talking about him coming to Leigh.

Safe to say he is not of marquee status at present, due to filling in doing Truck Driving and Metalworker for $20 an hour during his ban.
Leigh need Ben Barba and Ben Barba needs Leigh, the number of options is very limited and I think it is the obvious solution for both player and club.

Do I like the baggage that he brings with him, no way. I am embarrassed to discuss the issue with my wife and daughter, but the idea of seeing him at the LSV playing for Leigh is of palpable excitement. Every SL team has a recognised Fullback except for Leigh and most teams have filled their overseas quota and are finalising the last few available slots on the Salary cap. It all makes sense that he is coming to Leigh.

Seems like you have a short memory.He did have some top games for Saints that stick in the memory but towards the end of his stay he was poor and we know why.His performances before that are too long ago to be relevant.
What did your wife and daughter have to say?
You say he cannot demand marquee money, too true.If we have marquee money available I am sure the agents will be offering us players who have been active on the field and not driving a truck for a couple of years.Derek himself said that he thought we would have more overseas players to choose from come January.
Finally,Rangi Chase..

Maybe that in allowing Catalans to sign Israel Folou a precedent has been set ?

There’s no precedent.. He was acquitted lock stock and barrel.

https://www.totalrl.com/barba-return-put-on-hold/ Has anyone considered the Scots laddie Ben Nevis at full-back? Granted, at 350 million years old he might not be as fast as he once was but immovable in defence by all accounts and hasn't seen red in all those years.

https://www.totalrl.com/barba-return-put-on-hold/ Has anyone considered the Scots laddie Ben Nevis at full-back? Granted, at 350 million years old he might not be as fast as he once was but immovable in defence by all accounts and hasn't seen red in all those years.

Just been reading of the "imports" coming over from Australia, does anyone agree with me that we are getting left behind in the recruitment of player's for the task that is facing us.
Some who write on these pages have been saying we have got a few a few 'high' quality player's lined up, the news coming out of the club is that silent it is deafening, as the playing roster stands we have a lot of average indians but no chiefs to guide and take us forward.
I can't help but thinking a good number of pastings will do the club more harm than good, god know's there are enough out there who write on social media praying for Leigh to fail miserably.

No superstars coming.Think those days have gone with the money now on offer at home.
More recently lesser players who are not in some kind of rehab have come who have turned into England internationals.
The pool of players is so much bigger especially with the addition of various islanders.Club do right to take time to find the right ones with the stated intention of making an impact on and off the pitch.
Lets hope Mr Carvell has a good eye good contacts or probably both as it will be a tough year if we ever get going

Hi Mr Mills, I would think that Mr Carvell should have at the interview stage sorted out a recruitment budget before accepting the position otherwise it could be a poisoned chalice of a job. You say it is right to take time to find the right ones which I agree with but as we stand at the moment it is just 9 weeks till the start of the season how much time have we got, those clubs who we would be expecting to be fighting for the 11th or better spot have better squads than us, I wouldn't mind so much if there was some speculation and target player's were being named, as I said previously when you look at the recruitment of other clubs, never mind SL a couple of Championship clubs especially Toulouse have recruited far better than we have, as it is I think the only way we will avoid relegation is if the season is again a victim of the pandemic and no P&R happens, Mr Beaumont has stated all along that his goal is to be in SL at the start of the '22 season, for that to happen the playing roster needs a good dose of looking at.

Dont know who Mr Mills is.Is he a back or a forward.
Mr Beaumont did say it would likely be January before we signed anyone.
I guess with your knowledge of the market you must be an agent and Derek has not yet paid for your new extension.
Tell us all then who we should sign.Is about half a dozen or so former overseas of ours kicking around in sl exclude them.

I think it would be fair, and a good idea to evaluate the squad when it's complete.

The lack of top class additions to the squad and the associated publicity is very difficult to understand. Some information from the club to fans would be helpful in building anticipation and our hopes for a successful season. The additional signings need time in pre-season to fully integrate into the squad.