BEN Barba’s decision to leave Saints a year early and return to the NRL with the North Queensland Cowboys is a disappointment, but no great surprise.

The speculation has been there all year – and once the player started hitting his straps in Super League it was inevitable that he would be in demand back home again.

And that desire was clearly mutual.

The RFL decision to uphold the 12-man match ban, handed out in Australia for cocaine use, effectively gift-wrapped him for an NRL return.

Saints will receive a transfer fee, but that is almost scant compensation for losing a player of this calibre and who for a good chunk of 2018 really lit up the town.

It has not all been a bed of roses, and that uncertainty over his future, a series of niggling injuries and a dip in his and the team’s form at the time of the Challenge Cup semi-final knock out, resulted in a change in attitudes.

Suddenly everything was magnified – every loose pass and missed tackle – and that seemed to sour all that had preceded it.

He was even booed for failing to join the lap of honour after a dispiriting home defeat by Huddersfield the week after the cup exit.

It would be a travesty if his spell at Saints is tainted by the departure, a few missed tackles and a couple of flat displays when playing with niggling injury and question marks over his future.

There was an understandable feeling of hurt on the terraces, some even spoke of betrayal, when it became obvious that Barba was intent on a return to the NRL.

But it was all smiles again last Saturday when the ace full back looked back to his early season best in grabbing a brace of scores in the demolition of Warrington.

The former Canterbury, Brisbane and Cronulla full back has rebuilt his rugby league career at Saints, joining in May 2017 after a short stint in the 15-man code.

He was not short of options, with Saints beating Warrington to his signature.

After serving a 12-match ban, handed out in Australia but upheld and effectively enforced by the RFL, Barba slowly found his feet at Saints and showed glimpses of what lay in store.

But after a strong pre-season, Barba showed his mettle and immediately showed his box office credentials.

He lit up the competition, with some special plays – adding a real bit of sparkle into the attack in conjunction with Jonny Lomax, Mark Percival and Regan Grace.

His ability to read a game, time a pass, know where and when to run and beat a man with a shake of the hips was there for all to see on Good Friday with an absolute pearler of a try.

A length of the field effort at Castleford in the Challenge Cup allowed Barba to show his lethal finishing skills and entertainment value to a wider audience.

From February to July it was rugby league with a smile on its face, with Barba’s input infusing the team with confidence and creating space and opportunities for the backline to impress.

But the question marks were always there - and the agents and Aussie media were like dogs with a bone.

Every week there was Barba speculation Down Under, which was echoed over here.

Unlike Jamie Lyon, who was not allowed to return to the NRL until his contract with Parramatta had expired, there was no such impediment to Barba.

Given that he had been made to clear his ban in England - something that other players who have left Australia under a cloud have not had to do – it made him more lucrative to potential NRL suitors.

At 29, with a few prime years left in him, it was inevitable that Barba would seek a return to rugby league's highest possible stage.

Barba, who was quite overcome with emotion when he spoke last night at the awards ceremony, was appreciative of what the club has done since signing in May 2017.

He said: “They supported me when I needed it most and I am appreciative of the understanding and compassion in allowing me to return home.

“I want to finish the season off playing my best football for the club and fans and hopefully capping off a successful season.”

Saints will get a transfer fee – and that money, and will go towards a replacement full back having already confirmed that Kevin Naiqama will play centre.

Hopefully, Barba can sign off in style and become one of those elite group of players to collect Grand Final winners rings on both sides of the world.

If he does, he will be spoken about in the same breath as Mal Meninga and Jamie Lyon – the sort of player who only drops into the British game once in a blue moon.