Barba was slapped with a 12-match ban after testing positive to cocaine in the wake of Cronulla’s maiden premiership win.

He was subsequently released and then re-signed by the Sharks, however, the NRL failed to approve the contract in a timely manner, according to Barba.

With four children and three mortgages to pay, Barba could not wait any longer and signed a $2.5 million 2.5 year deal with Toulon. 

He said he felt hard done by compared to other NRL players in similar situations who had been allowed to train with clubs.

"I didn't know what was going on," Barba told Fox Sports.

"I didn't know when I was allowed to go back to training, when my contract was going to be registered, when I was allowed to actually join the team and ball work.

"It was just confusing because there were a few other guys who got the same thing and were allowed to join in on all the training.

"I just had to ask the question why I was different."

Barba had his share of issues throughout his NRL career.

He was let go by the Bulldogs for off-field issues before joining Brisbane, only to be let go by Wayne Bennett.

Then came his cocaine ban.

The 27-year-old admitted his career did not play out as positively as he would have hoped.

"Obviously, I would have liked it to run a bit more smoothly than my career did go," he said.

Barba won the 2012 Dally M Medal.