SAINTS boss Justin Holbrook says the speculation around Ben Barba’s return to the NRL is not a factor in either the player or team’s dip in form.

When the going was good Barba was lavished with praise and touted as the Man Of Steel, so - after three losses from four - it was inevitable for fans and pundits alike to make the uncertainty around the star full back as the starting point for debate.

Although nothing has been confirmed yet, Australia’s Courier-Mail last week reported that Barba will join North Queensland Cowboys on a transfer fee next year - a year before his Saints contract expires.

But Holbrook does not believe that this is the reason behind Barba’s dip in form, arguing that that team’s inability to create opportunities for him is the biggest factor.

Holbrook said: “In terms of him playing - I thought he he tried hard on Friday but we probably did not give him enough opportunities.

“That is something we have to do.

“He is over his niggling injuries, which is great.

“We just have to get him more ball.”

The assumption that Barba’s head had been turned to the NRL and his heart was not in it was dismissed by the Saints boss.

“He is still contributing as good as he has all year in training.

“If the team is not playing well collectively, in his position he is the icing on the cake, coming in on the end of our plays and produce something special.

“But at the moment we are not getting that far so we are not getting him those opportunities.

“It is unfair to put the criticism on him if we are not creating the opportunities for him.

“The talk and speculation has not unsettled us at all as a team.

“There was talk early on in the year about him not staying - but we were winning then, so it was not an issue.

“The speculation has been there all year, so that is not a reason,” Holbrook said.