Former Dally M medal winner Ben Barba will return to the NRL to play for the North Queensland Cowboys, as reported by The Courier Mail.
The Courier Mail reports that Barba will become a part of the Cowobys' post-Johnathan Thurston era, and is nearing a one-year contract with the club.
Barba's management has reportedly been finalising with North Queensland, which could be announced as soon as Friday.
The 29-year old's English club St Helens and will sign a release pending a transfer fee from the Cowboys, who are cashed up following Thurston's retirement.
Barba's last NRL appearance was for the Cronulla Sharks, but was suspended indefinitely by the league for a cocaine scandal in 2016.