New St Helens head coach Justin Holbrook would relish the opportunity to work with Ben Barba again.

The former Cronulla full-back is a free agent in demand and speculation that he would make a shock switch to the Betfred Super League went into overdrive when he was spotted in the crowd at the opening day of the Dacia Magic Weekend in Newcastle.

Barba was given a 12-week ban and released by his club after testing positive for cocaine in November, not long after helping the Sharks to a 14-12 win over Melbourne in the 2016 NRL Grand Final.

He sidestepped that suspension with his switch of codes but a Rugby Football League spokesman confirmed to Press Association Sport that he would have to serve the ban if he joins a Super League club.

It seems that would not deter Holbrook and while Warrington and Catalans Dragons have also been linked with Barba, Saints may have the edge in the race for his signature due to Holbrook working with the Australian when they were both at Canterbury in the NRL.

Holbrook said: “For the Super League I think it would be great, he’s such an excitable player. I had a little bit to do with him going back six or seven years when I was coaching the Bulldogs, he played a few games with us there.

“I’ve had a couple of chats to him; he’s been frustrated with the rugby union experiment that hasn’t gone as well as he would have liked, so it would be really awesome to have him come on board. With a bit of luck it would be nice to have him join the squad.”

Holbrook, who oversaw a 45-0 victory over Hull in his first game as Saints head coach, revealed he would expect Barba to thrive in a leadership role should he complete a move to the Totally Wicked Stadium.

He added: “I think for the game it would be nice to have him for a couple of years. He’s obviously done a few things wrong in the past but I think he’s getting to the age now where he can be a leader and not just a player worrying about himself.”

Barba, who also played for Brisbane in the NRL and represented the Prime Minister’s XIII in 2011, was recently told by Toulon that he would be no longer required, despite having a year and a half remaining on his contract and admits he is talking to Super League clubs.

“My manager is over here to watch the Magic Weekend,” Barba told Sky Sports. “I have a few decisions to make over my future so why not catch up here in the UK at Magic Weekend?

“I can’t give away too much at the moment, I’m still with Toulon, I’m here, it’s no lie to say I’m here to see a few clubs.

“Maybe in the next few days we’ll see where I’m at.”