Ben Barba wants to win title for outgoing Jon Wilkin

James Gordon

St Helens star Ben Barba wants to sign off with a Super League title – and not just for himself.

Barba, 29, has lit up the competition in 2018 but will return to the NRL for 2019, having penned a deal with North Queensland Cowboys.

He is 160 minutes away from going home with a Super League Grand Final winners ring, with Warrington the first obstacle to overcome at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Thursday night

Barba said: “It would be unreal to end my time here with the Grand Final. It would bring tears to my eyes really.

“It’s something I wanted to do. I wanted to leave my mark on the club and leave them with something, we had the chance last year and fell short, and now we’ve been given another chance to try and get there.

“We’ve worked so hard to put ourselves in this position and it’s not just for me, but for everyone else too.

“Guys like Jon Wilkin, who’s played 16 years at the club, the drive for me would be to give him something rather than me who’s been here for 16 months.”

St Helens have won all three meetings between the two sides this season, including a narrow 14-12 victory at home back in July.

But that counts for nothing on Thursday night.

Barba added: “The game we played at home a few months ago, you seen what sort of game it was. They have a big, impressive forward pack, quality halves that lead the team around and they’ve got wonderful outside backs.

“I’m not saying we’ve got none of that, but I think two sides like that have class across the field and it’s going to be a walk in the park that’s for sure.”