Titans sign Barba

The iSelect Gold Coast Titans have added further depth to their squad for next season after signing talented youngster Marmin Barba.

Marmin, the younger brother of Bulldogs dynamo and last year’s Dally M Medal winner Ben, gives the club another option in the halves and at fullback after signing with the club for the next two seasons.

The 21-year-old comes to the club from Parramatta after playing in the Eels’ NYC Toyota Cup side and experiencing a stint training with the NRL squad before suffering a knee injury early last season.

Barba commenced training with the iSelect Titans squad this morning.

iSelect Titans Chief Executive Officer David May said the addition of Barba would add further depth to the playing squad ahead of the 2013 season.

“Marmin is a real prospect, he’s obviously got a great pedigree and by all accounts is one of the bright young future stars of the game so it’s a really exciting thing for us and we’re pleased to give him his chance with the first grade squad,’’ said May.

“It’s probably a decision that is more about the future than necessarily today. He’ll train with us and hopefully prove what he’s got. It’s an investment in the future so it’s great to have someone as exciting as him around the club.

“We wanted to give him a chance and two years really is probably a window that you want to give somebody of his age the opportunity to show what they can do.’’

Mackay product Barba said he was excited about the opportunity at the Titans and to be back in Queensland.

“It’s really exciting. I was at Parramatta last year and it’s good to get an opportunity here at the Titans and be back up in Queensland,’’ said Barba.

“I don’t really have high hopes of playing NRL just yet, I’ll just slowly try and work my way up there and take it step by step.’’

Barba is still on the comeback trail from a knee reconstruction he suffered in Round 2 last season when playing for Parramatta feeder club Wentworthville.

“It’s slowly getting there now, I’ve just got to get it back to full-strength and hopefully it goes well from there.’’

Barba scored 20 tries in 19 games for the Eels’ Toyota Cup team in 2011.