A 12-match NRL ban will still hang over Ben Barba should he ever return to Australia if St Helens pursue - and succeed - in having his illicit drugs suspension overthrown so he can start his English Super League career immediately.
The NRL confirmed on Thursday it wouldn't allow Barba to return to action in the southern hemisphere without first serving his sentence for testing positive to cocaine after the Sharks' grand final celebrations last year as StHelens seek "final clarification" on his playing future.
Barba inked a deal at the English Super League powerhouse until the end of 2019 after exiting French rugby giants Toulon just months into a multimillion dollar deal.
The Rugby Football League and NRL have an unwritten agreement to honour suspensions incurred in either code should players switch between competitions, meaning Barba's St Helens bow might not be possible until August.
But in trumpeting the signature of the 27-year-old, St Helens are likely to ask the RFL if Barba could suit up as early as the weekend - without serving his 12-match ban in the 13-man code.
If such a request was acceded to the NRL is likely to take a dim view and stressed Barba wouldn't be allowed to return to its competition without a stint on the sidelines.
Barba recorded a second strike under the code's illicit drugs policy last year and was released by Cronulla after the Sharks' historic triumph, opting to take up a rich deal in the Top 14 competition to secure the financial future of his family, including four daughters.
Barba will join former Roosters assistant coach Justin Holbrook at St Helens after being shunned by NRL clubs after Toulon.
"I feel very privileged to be joining such a historic rugby league club as St Helens," Barba said.
"I wanted to make an early decision so that I can get my family settled in England and kids enrolled at school."
The chances of Barba returning to the NRL appear slim though despite winning a Dally M Media, winning a premiership and falling just one try shy of 100 in his career spanning the Bulldogs, Broncos and Sharks.
"I am confident that he will add a new dimension to Saints and is a great capture for Super League," Holbrook said. "He is a multi-talented and world-class rugby league player.
"It is not often that players of his calibre become available and the club has pulled out all the stops to fight off competition from both rugby codes around the world."
