Disgraced Ben Barba admits he lost his cool when he exploded at a journalist - and says he'll never play in the NRL again Barba said he won't return to the NRL but wishes to play in his local league He said he was trying to protect his children when he exploded at a journalist Barba said he was looking forward to getting on with his life and job By Tom Place For Daily Mail Australia Published: 05:50 GMT, 22 March 2019 | Updated: 05:50 GMT, 22 March 2019 Viewcomments Shamed footballer Ben Barba has abandoned plans to return to the NRL and has opened up about his heated clash with a journalist saying 'I will hurt you'. The 29-year-old faced Townsville Magistrates Court on Friday charged with two counts of public nuisance over an incident with his long-term partner Ainslie Currie. The former Dally M medallist had his matter adjourned to Mackay but broke his silence outside court. Although he said he had given up hope of returning to the NRL, he wants to take the field in local football competitions. Scroll down for video Barba faced Townsville Magistrates Court this morning charged with two counts of public nuisance relating to an allegations involving his partner Ainslie Currie In explaining his emotional outburst at a journalist last Tuesday, who questioned him over the allegations, Barba said he would do 'anything for his kids' and was trying to protect them from the situation. 'I lost my cool a few days ago when people were following me around,' Barba said. 'I probably acted in the wrong way but that's the length I'll go to protect my children.' The former Cronulla Sharks player said he felt free now that he was no longer playing in the NRL and was looking forward to being 'a normal human being' and enjoying his new job as a labour. 'As bad as the situation is I've never felt so free that I can get on with my life without the pressure of footy,' he said. Barba was recently revealed by the Daily Mail to be working in a $20 an hour job at a metal work business after he was dropped from his $300,000 contact at the Queensland Cowboys Barba's lawyer Campbell MacCullum said his client would be pleading guilty to the charges and had the matter adjourned to April 16th. The troubled player has been in a downward spiral since he tested positive for cocaine in 2016. Barba was kicked out of the Cronulla Sharks despite helping the NSW club win their first premiership. After a brief career in French rugby union he was offered the chance to play within the NRL at the Queensland Cowboys. But after allegations surfaced of Barba assaulting his partner in Ville Resort and Casino, NRL boss Todd Greenberg blacklisted him from the competition before he could play a single game. Now he is working in a $20 an hour job at a metal work business after he was dropped from his $300,000 contact at the Queensland Cowboys. He clashed with a Nine News journalist while with his family outside of Statewide Sales and Service. 'I will hurt you. Do you want me to hurt you?' Barba shouted at the reporter. 'I'm about to be charged with nothing (but) I don't feel lucky. I've lost everything.' Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility