The fullback has also battled a gambling issue in the past.

Barba will join Toulon after signing a deal for the remainder of the season. 

With no income, mounting bills and a mortgage, Barba made the decision to head overseas.

He today confirmed he may not return to the NRL.

“I’ve got to look after my kids and my family,” Barba told reporters outside his home on Wednesday morning.

“They’re my first option. Nothing’s final yet. At the moment I’m just listening to the people that take care of me and I go from there.”

He signed a new deal with the Sharks two weeks ago which is yet to be signed off by the NRL.

The French rugby season ends in June, around the same time Barba’s NRL ban ends.

However, should the premiership-winning ace head overseas, the NRL is expected to start his ban if and when he returns, effectively rubbing him out of the 2017 season.

“The NRL hasn’t given me much, if it comes to that I might never play the game again," Barba said. 

“So I’ll just go from there and listen to the guys that take care of me and we’ll make the decision at the end of the day.

“They’ve had quite a while to sort my stuff out. It’s taken them three months and nothing’s been sorted out.

“As I said I’ve just gone along with the flow and listened to the guys that take care of me.”

Sharks coach Shane Flanagan was told of Barba's impending shift to rugby last night. 

Barba was released by the Sharks in October after returning a positive drugs test following the 2016 grand final.

He was given a 12-week ban and subsequently released by the club and attended a health facility in Thailand.