NRL clubs keen to sign Ben Barba after getting release from St Helens

Ben Barba will attempt to make a comeback to the Telstra Premiership next year after reaching an agreement with English club St Helens to release him from the final year of his contract.

NRL.com has confirmed with the Barba camp that he will finish his stint in the Super League at the end of this season and NRL clubs have already enquired about his services for 2019.

The 2016 Cronulla Sharks premiership winner linked with St Helens after a short-lived stint playing rugby in France for Toulon.

He left the Sharks after he was handed a 12-match for a second positive test to cocaine.

After making a successful start to his time at the Saints in February, he told NRL.com he was hopeful of one day returning to Australia as he had unfinished business in the Telstra Premiership.

The former Dally M Medal winner, who began his NRL career at Canterbury and also played a season with Brisbane, starred for Cronulla in their grand final win over Melbourne two years ago, scoring the first try of the 14-12 win.

An NRL spokesman said head office, as is the case with any player, would need to be satisfied Barba was a fit and proper person in order to be registered.