Former Brisbane Broncos champion Wendell Sailor offers to help Ben Barba get career on track WENDELL Sailor has offered to help Ben Barba steer clear of the destructive path that almost ruined his own career. Like Barba, Sailor is a north Queenslander, and he has watched the Dally M Medallist's fall from grace with interest because he understands the pressures of life in the NRL penthouse. The code's golden boy 12 months ago, Barba, 24, will arrive at the Broncos with his career at the crossroads after a nightmare season blighted by injury and assault allegations. The Broncos are banking on the fullback to inspire their revival next year and Sailor, the former Brisbane winger, believes getting out of Sydney is the change he needs. "I think Brisbane can be a good place for him," said Sailor, who was banned for two years for cocaine use while playing rugby in 2006. Sydney can eat you up and it ate me up badly in 2006. When I went down there, I got caught up in things outside footy. There's all these nightspots and you have people outside of the game saying "come here" and "go there." Ben Barba trains for the Bulldogs. He is at an age now where he shouldn't waste his talent. I don't know if it's make or break, but if he wants to be a world-class player, he needs to rein in some things. I told Ben recently if you need to have a chat, I'm here. When you are in trouble, you don't want everyone jumping on board but if he wants my support, I am here for him. The Broncos is a good place for Ben, he will be the man next year and I really believe he will respond. Sailor forged a bond with Barba during the Indigenous All Stars week in February, when the Queensland Origin hopeful scored a hat-trick in a 32-6 drubbing of the NRL side. Within weeks, Barba had been stood down by the Bulldogs for personal reasons. During his month on the sidelines, Barba was ordered to undergo counselling, but it is since alleged he refused professional help. Sailor also initially baulked at counselling sessions during his time on the sidelines, but the former Wallabies star says Barba can rebuild his career with strong support networks. I got a lot of counselling. I walked out better for it and no doubt Ben is feeling the same pressures I did," Sailor said. I'm not sure if the Dally M award last year affected Ben. The accolades came and he may have thought, "how good am I going." If you take shortcuts off the field, it doesn't take much to fall away at the top level. I don't know the whole Ben Barba story, but I have worked with him the last few years in the Indigenous All Stars and I was quite surprised by what has come out. "Hopefully, sharing my experiences and the things I went through, a guy like Ben can say "that's how I'm feeling." I don't know if he has finished his counselling but it's something that can help. I just hope Ben doesn't let things get out of hand and become destructive because he can do great things at the Broncos.