Ben Barba has been sacked by the North Queensland Cowboys after a "significant breach" of his contract.
The 2018 Super League Man of Steel and top try scorer opted to move back to Australia after two successful seasons with St Helens – where he lifted the League Leaders' Shield.
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However, he will not make his first appearance back in the NRL since 2016 after the Cowboys confirmed his contract had been terminated over an alleged incident at a casino.
"When a player joins the North Queensland Cowboys he agrees to abide by the terms of the contract," Cowboys chairman Laurence Lancini said in a statement.
"After an internal investigation, it has been determined that this player has acted in contradiction to both the terms and the spirit of that agreement.
"Accordingly, the club has terminated his contract and has informed the NRL's Integrity Unit."
It is not the first time Barba has seen a deal ended prematurely, the five-eighth having been sacked by the Cronulla Sharks in 2016 following a positive drugs test and seeing his brief stint in rugby union with Toulon end after four games.
