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'EBC not to blame for my troubles'

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 18 April 2013 | 23.34

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Ben Barba ... opens up in an exclusive interview on Sterlo. Source:AAP

Ben Barba says his drinking buddies in the notorious "Epic Bender Crew" aren't to blame for his dramatic fall from grace, despite admitting to spending his darkest days with them, drinking and gambling as a way of "escaping from the world".

Speaking in a one-on-one interview for the first time since he was removed from his club side, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, to attend a rehab clinic on the eve of round one, Barba revealed on Fox Sports' Sterlo show his partying had become a problem soon after the break-up of his relationship with long-term partner and mother of his children, Ainslie Currie.

In the days after the explosive press conference when Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg alluded to some of the issues being faced by Barba, reports started to emerge of the "crew" known as the EBC, who Barba would spend long nights with. While reports referred to the EBC as the Epic Bender Crew, the player referred to the group as the Elite Bender Crew during the Sterlo interview.

Barba went as far as having EBC tattooed on his torso - an image that was infamously circulated on social media soon afterwards.

But while Barba admitted alcohol and gambling were at the core of the issues that landed him in the South Pacific rehab clinic, he wasn't interested in transferring the blame.

"When I was feeling down, or feeling blue, my only way of escaping was drinking alcohol or gambling an excess amount," Barba said.

"After being in that clinic (it became clear) it is a problem.

"That was my way of escaping the life of football and all that kind of stuff. As I said, I joined a crew, a drinking crew, which they sort of spotlighted in the media.

"It wasn't so much me joining a crew, it was just a group of mates of mine who I enjoyed having a beer with and, I guess, it wasn't them to be blamed, it was me: the person doing all the drinking and trying to escape from all the problems in football that I was having.

"It was my decision to hang out with these people. I'd known some of them for quite a while and like I said, it was just a group of my mates I enjoyed having a beer with and we thought, why not get a tattoo about it.

"As I said, it was my way of escaping from the world, and what was going on around me. And I guess hiding from the truth."

Barba accepts that he would have been better off surrounding himself by better influences.


Click on the video at the top of the page to watch the exclusive interview, and watch Sterlo LIVE at 7.30pm (EST) every Thursday on Fox Sports 1HD for the best weekly analysis of the NRL.


"I think (I would change) a lot of my decision-making over the last six months, going back to the alcohol and all that kind of stuff," Barba said.

"And how much I was drinking of a week, especially over the pre-season.

"Not blaming those people, but choosing the right people to hang out with sometimes. As I said those blokes are my mates, the Elite Bender Crew, so just making the right choices and I probably wouldn't have been in this position if I made the right choices then."

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The alcohol and the gambling were the tipping point but Barba revealed thoughts about his family and his childhood formed the darkness that clouded the choices he made.

After years spent with his childhood sweetheart from Mackay, Currie, Barba's life crashed down around his ears when the relationship ended towards the end of last year.

When he first realised he wasn't in a state-of-mind to be playing football, it was his two kids he shares with Currie who he was thinking about.

"It was very difficult. I've known my partner, my ex-partner now, for a long time and we'd been together for a long time," Barba said.

"And I guess coming to the decision I guess to split with her and leave my two kids behind played a big role in what was going on inside my head.

"I guess there were signs there at training. And I guess before a game, in the only trial I played this year, my mind wasn't on what I was supposed to be doing.

"It was a long, long way away from that field down in Goulburn.

"We'd come off at half-time and the only thing in my mind wasn't the game or what just happened on the field, it was what was happening with my partner and my kids and what were they doing and that kind of stuff.

"Not one bit was I thinking about the game and I knew there and then that I was letting my teammates down if I didn't get help."

And when he was facing his demons in rehab, it was the thought of being reunited with his kids, along with a desire to honour the trust placed in him by Des Hasler, that got him through.

"It's quite weird because you're not allowed any contact with the outside world while you're in there," Barba revealed.

"You get a visit on Sunday and one phone call a week unless you've got kids, which I was lucky enough I had.

"Des was pretty good, he knew when he first put me in there he told me to trust him and to knuckle down and work hard because the ultimatum was put the effort in here or there's no coming back to football.

"For times there I struggled a bit and I wanted to pack up and leave and go into hiding somewhere but he came around, they allowed him to come in and see me, and just the emotion he showed towards me on trusting him and knowing there'd be a better outcome if I stayed in there and worked through it, he's been such a big help to me this last year, and especially through this tough time."


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'Winning culture' Smith's biggest asset

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Winner ... Smith has a history of playing in successful sides. Source:News Limited

Brumbies coach Jake White says veteran flanker George Smith's value is largely to do with the "winning culture" he brings to the side, one Wallabies coach Robbie Deans would be wise to use against the Lions.

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The Super Rugby pace-setters were granted an extension on Smith's contract from Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath on Thursday, with the star flanker now set to remain in Canberra until the end of the Super Rugby season.

Speaking to Fox Sports' Rugby HQ ahead of his side's huge clash with Queensland Reds, White said the aura that went with Smith's imposing record had been invaluable to his relatively inexperienced outfit.

"Firstly, let me say that's it's fantastic to have a guy like George on board, winners just create winners," White told Rugby HQ.

"He's gone through 33 games at Suntory now without losing a game, so it just shows that there's definitely a winning culture when George is around.

"I'm hoping that stat of being 12 from 12 on Saturday is obviously something that we're aspiring to and I'm sure George will do his bit to make sure we get that result."

White also paid tribute to Suntory for their professional approach to the negotiations, revealing the Japanese club were "honoured" to assist the Brumbies.

"I've slowly, slowly been dealing behind the scenes with Suntory – they've been magnificent in loaning him to us," White said.

"They've now come out and said it would be an honour for them to allow him to be playing.


Watch the Brumbies' clash with the Reds from 7.30pm Saturday Live and in HD on Fox Sports 2HD!


"Everyone knows the more George plays the better becomes and he doesn't need a break; he says he's loving his rugby and loving being a part of this Brumbies team.

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"So as I said, it's fantastic that Japanese rugby and Suntory have come on board and given us his services to our campaign's over."

Suntory's decision to allow Smith to stay on in Canberra now puts the ball back into Deans's and the Australian Rugby Union's court as to whether he is selected for the Lions series.

Yet even in the absence of the injured David Pocock the Wallabies backrow stocks remain strong, youngsters Michael Hooper and Liam Gill both performing in Super Rugby.

While he stopped short of calling for Smith's Wallabies inclusion, it wasn't hard to work out who the Rugby World Cup-winning coach thought should be lining up at No.7 in the first Test at Suncorp Stadium.

"It's not for me to decide who should be playing above who," White said.

"I think at the end of the day every coach knows that you want to win Test matches, you want to make sure that this Lions series is successful for Australia.

"So the answer's quite simple, Robbie's got to do what he thinks is best to make sure he gets victory in those three Tests.

"George Smith is one of the greatest players to ever play for Australia and who's ever played world rugby, and if it means he's going to be on the field to win a series then you pick him.

"It doesn't matter whether or not some guys lose out - the nature of professional sport is some players make it and some don't make it."


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Teams: Rivers recalled, Crows axe Vince

Back ... Jared Rivers returns for the Cats. Source: Wayne Ludbey / Herald Sun

Geelong have regained ex-Melbourne defender Jared Rivers, naming him to play AFL premiers Sydney Swans on Friday night.

Rivers has been out for the past two matches with a knee injury after making his Cats debut in round one.

Geelong have included Rivers as one of two changes to their side to take on the Swans at the SCG, along with youngster George Horlin-Smith.

They replace Travis Varcoe, who seriously injured his shoulder last week, and omitted Jordan Murdoch.

Sydney Swans have axed Craig Bird and Andrejs Everitt, with premiership forward Mitch Morton recalled along with youngster Dane Rampe.

Essendon have named forward Michael Hurley for their clash with St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday despite concerns over a wrist injury.

Hurley trained with teammates on Thursday with his right wrist heavily bandaged.

But the Bombers have included him and made five changes - with veteran defender Dustin Fletcher missing out with a groin injury.

With Paddy Ryder out suspended, David Hille makes his first start of the season for the Bombers in the ruck.

And Essendon have promoted speedster Jason Winderlich after a wretched two seasons with injury.

Collingwood have suffered another injury setback ahead of their clash with Richmond at the MCG on Saturday, with veteran Ben Johnson out with a calf injury.

Johnson and defender Jack Frost miss out, with Paul Seedsman and Josh Thomas elevated.

Richmond go into the match with an unchanged side.

Melbourne has named Jack Watts in their starting 18 to face the Giants despite the No.1 draft pick not playing a game last week after being dropped. Max Gawn joins Watts in the starting side, while Jake Spencer is on an extended bench.

Adelaide has lost patience with under-performing onballer Bernie Vince, who drops back to the SANFL, and the Crows also lose Nathan van Berlo to a knee injury.

Sam Kerridge is named in the starting 18, while Rory Laird, Shaun McKernan, Tom Lynch and Jarryd Lyons are on an extended bench.

The Western Bulldogs have suffered another injury setback, with experienced Robert Murphy (calf) joining Shaun Higgins, Tory Dickson and Easton Wood on the casualty list.

They are set to give last year's draftees Jake Stringer and Jack Macrae debuts in their match against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.


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Mourinho set for Real exit?

Mindgames ... is Mourinho headed out the door next season? Source: AAP

Speculation over Jose Mourinho's future intensified on Thursday after he reportedly told youth team coaches he would not be manager of Real Madrid next season.

Spanish sports daily As raised the prospect of the Portuguese's departure from the nine-time European champions in an interview with Manuel Alvarez, club president of Canillas, where the Real boss delivered a coaching master class on Monday.

"Mourinho told us that next year he wouldn't be able to give the master class, that it would be impossible because he would no longer be here.

"He said it half jokingly, half seriously,'' Alvarez was quoted as saying.

"He didn't tell us where he was going because we didn't ask him any further questions,'' the president of Canillas, a club in the Madrid suburbs, added.

On Sunday another Spanish paper, El Pais, linked Mourinho to a return to his former club Chelsea, who have also been linked to Malaga's Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini.

Mourinho's contract with Real, who face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semi-final first leg next Tuesday, runs until 2016.

He has always stated that he plans to sit down with Real president Florentino Perez at the end of the season to discuss his future.


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Bogut heading to NBA playoffs

Putting his hand up ... Bogut made a successful return from injury for Golden State. Source: Ben Margot / AAP

Andrew Bogut has overcome his latest ankle injury and will lead the Golden State Warriors in the NBA playoffs this weekend.

The Australian centre returned to the court against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday (AEST), helping the Warriors to an easy 99-88 victory in the final regular-season game and setting up a first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets.

"Most importantly, I want him healthy," Warriors head coach Mark Jackson said after the win in Portland.

"It was good to see him healthy and moving well."

Bogut missed 38 games at the beginning of the season after undergoing arthroscopic and micro-fracture surgery on his left ankle and sent a scare through the team on April 11 when he limped off the court on the same ankle in a game against the Oklahoma Thunder.

He missed the next two games and there were fears he would remain sidelined for the playoffs, but the injury was diagnosed as only a bone bruise and he was cleared to play against Portland.

The Warriors need Bogut's big body for the first round of the playoffs against the Nuggets, which begins on Saturday in Denver, and he had a steady return against the Trail Blazers with eight rebounds, two blocks, three assists and two points in his 17 minutes.

The Warriors' sharp-shooting guard Stephen Curry made NBA history in Portland, bringing his three-point tally for the season to 272, breaking the record formerly held by the Miami Heat's Ray Allen.

Bogut's Boomer teammate, San Antonio Spurs' guard Patrick Mills, is also playoff-bound with the Spurs playing the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.


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Video: inside Eels dressing rooms

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Intense ... watch Sterlo on Thursday night to learn more about Ricky Stuart. Source: Philip Hillyard / News Limited

Every kid who grows up watching footy dreams of getting the chance to see inside a dressing room packed full of their heroes.

But with most professional sports environments closed off to the public, that dream rarely turns to reality.

Parramatta coach Ricky Stuart is big on the sanctity of the sheds but in a rare opportunity for the fans, the premiership mentor has opened up the most private part of game day for the Eels, providing a unique insight into what the environment is like.

Stuart and the Eels gave Fox Sports the chance to film them before and during the big clash against Gold Coast Titans last weekend.

Given the former NSW Origin coach's anger after the game, when he unleashed an expletive-laden tirade against the referees, the segment proved to be a fascinating insight into life as an NRL coach.

From his instructions to playmaker Chris Sandow before the match to his emotional, honest appraisal of the side's performance after recording a narrow loss, Stuart's emotions are laid bare.

Click on the video at the top of the page to see the incredible footage from inside the Eels' dressing rooms!


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