NRL 2025: Parramatta Eels Recruit Ben Barba Vows to Silence Doubters in Explosive Comeback
In one of the most controversial and compelling storylines of the 2025 NRL season, former Dally M Medalist Ben Barba is officially back — and he’s coming with a point to prove.
The Parramatta Eels have taken a calculated gamble, signing the 35-year-old fullback who hasn’t played an NRL game since being deregistered in 2019 following an off-field incident. Now, six years later, Barba says he’s a different man — and he’s determined to show that not only does he still have the speed, footwork, and football IQ to make an impact, but that he belongs back on the game’s biggest stage.
“This isn’t about redemption,” Barba said at a press conference this week. “It’s about proving that I can still play elite footy and help Parramatta win. People can say what they like — I’m here to let my football do the talking.”
Barba’s return is part of a broader shake-up at Parramatta, who finished a disappointing 15th last season. The club has undergone a total reset under new head coach Jason Ryles, who has wasted no time putting his stamp on the squad. With big-name recruits like Josh Addo-Carr, Zac Lomax, and Isaiah Iongi joining the ranks, expectations are high — and the pressure is intense.
Yet it’s Barba, the most polarizing signing of the off-season, who commands the spotlight. Can the man who lit up the NRL in 2012 with 22 tries and a highlight reel of brilliance recapture that magic? Or is the game’s speed and physicality too far beyond him now?
“We know it’s a risk,” Ryles admitted. “But if Ben hits even 70% of what he was, he’s a game-changer. He’s looked sharp, fit, and focused in training. The hunger’s there.”
Fans are split. Some see a redemption arc. Others see a PR risk. But there’s no denying this: Ben Barba’s return brings intrigue, excitement — and the potential for something spectacular.
With the season opener just weeks away, all eyes are now on Bankwest Stadium. Love him or loathe him, Ben Barba is back. And he’s ready to shake the NRL to its core.
