Disgraced footy bad boy Ben Barba has taken his first steps towards life after sport, slugging it out inside a metal workshop just weeks after losing his $300,000-a-year contract.
The former Dally M player of the year and one-time face of the game in Australia is now working at Statewide Sales and Service, a local business in his hometown of Mackay, Queensland, that makes aluminium garage roller doors.
North Queensland Cowboys manager Peter Parr said last week Barba would drive trucks as part of his new life, but Daily Mail Australia can reveal the father-of-four is working as a metalworker - which pays about $39,000-a-year.
Amanda Doull, the manager of Statewide Sales and Service, said the troubled NRL star had landed the job through a family connection and was still learning the ropes.
'He's out there on the floor working under his cousin's supervision. He's good and he's going fine,' Ms Doull said.
Footy bad boy Ben Barba (pictured) has begun working at a doors factory after his NRL contract was torn up after he allegedly assaulted his partner Ainslie Currie in January
Barba, 29, has taken a job working for Statewide Sales and Services, a local company in his hometown of Mackay that make home and garage roller doors
Barba emerged from the factory in a sweat soaked shirt and with soot across his face, before making a phone call
Barba - who at the height of his career earned $500,000-a-year - was sacked earlier this month after he allegedly assaulted his partner Ainslie Currie during an Australia Day long weekend getaway to the Townsville Casino resort.
After the incident Ms Currie begged the NRL not to sack Barba, claiming it would cause financial hardship to their family.
But after viewing the CCTV footage of the alleged incident the North Queensland Cowboys tore up his contract.
NRL boss Todd Greenberg also handed Barba a life ban from the league and suggested he 'find a new vocation'.
Despite an ongoing police investigation Ms Currie has continued to stand by the troubled star, and was waiting to collect Barba when he knocked off work.
He emerged from the workshop at 4pm on Thursday, wearing a sweat-soaked shirt and with grease on his face.
Barba's footy boots and shorts were replaced with a pair of steel cap boots, khaki pants and a blue long sleeve shirt.
Prior to jumping into the car with Ms Currie he made a quick phone call and changed into a company polo shirt.
The disgraced NRL star was once earning $500,000-a-year, but since having his contract torn up has had to trade his football boots for steel caps and khaki pants
Barba changed out of his sweat soaked uniform shirt and into a company polo, before hopping into the waiting car being driven by his partner Ms Currie
Barba borrowed a work truck on his lunch break to drive back to the housing commission home of his parents
When Barba arrived home his partner Ainslie Currie was waiting out the front to pass something through the passenger-side window
Despite just weeks earlier allegedly being assaulted by Barba at the Townsville Casino resort, Ms Currie has stood by her man and appeared happy to see him on Thursday
A metal factory worker earns an average of $20.21 an hour or $39,000 a year.
Barba has also shifted his partner and their four children into the housing commission home of his parents, Ken and Kim.
Just a few weeks before the incident that ended his career, Barba posted a photo to Instagram of himself working out at a local Mackay oval surrounded by his children - Bobbi, Bodhi, Bronte and Blaise.
With a history of controversy and trouble, Barba was given the one-year deal by the
