Former Canterbury Bulldogs superstar Ben Barba missing in action at rehab sessions NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent chats about the latest NRL news. SHAMED Bulldogs star Ben Barba walked out on the only professional counselling session he attended despite agreeing to a "strict" 12-month rehabilitation program sparked by allegations he punched his former partner in the face. Club sources said the team failed to act on Barba's refusal to continue the sessions despite CEO Todd Greenberg publicly declaring the star fullback would "absolutely" be stood down if he failed to complete the full-time rehabilitation program at the South Pacific Rehab Hospital. The NRL was forced to launch an independent investigation into Greenberg and the club's handling of the Barba assault allegations after The Sunday Telegraph revealed Barba's partner went to Mr Greenberg and coach Des Hasler on February 24, claiming she was assaulted. Yesterday, Mr Greenberg and the Bulldogs were cleared of any wrongdoing by the independent investigation. An NRL statement said the report prepared by Tony Bannon SC "found that based on the facts at hand the club was not in a position to establish an act of domestic violence." Mr Bannon said: "On present information there is no basis for the NRL acting against the club or against Ben Barba." Ben Barba limps off in his last game for the Bulldogs. However, the NRL's statement does not address the assault allegations. An investigator rang The Sunday Telegraph during the course of the investigation to say they were not looking into whether an assault had taken place, just whether the club had acted appropriately. After the assault allegations were made on February 24, Mr Greenberg contacted a domestic violence counselling service before deciding not to tell the NRL about the incident. The club stood Barba down for alcohol and gambling issues and then booked him into the northern beaches medical institution for a four-week program. However, Barba checked himself out on Wednesday, May 13, to attend a pre-booked driver's licence test at the Miranda Roads and Traffic Authority. A Sunday Telegraph investigation can also reveal the full details of the club's failed bid to rehabilitate the fallen star. Canterbury's Ben Barba with his daughters Bodhi and Bronte after finishing his career at the Bulldogs with an injury. Picture: Phil Hillyard At the club's request, Barba subsequently agreed to attend the facility every Wednesday to be counselled on domestic violence and the other issues. But he failed to complete a single session, walking out of the facility during a coffee break on March 20 and never returning. A well-placed source has confirmed Barba was dropped off at the facility by a friend for the session which was scheduled to begin at 5.30pm and finish at 10pm. But Barba left about 8pm and told the friend he never intended to return because the counselling was a waste of time and he needed to play football. Barba resumed full-time training with the squad earlier that week and made a return the following Friday. Despite Mr Greenberg's declaration that Barba's counselling would be enforced, the club gave Barba permission to skip his next scheduled counselling session because he needed to train with the side on the Wednesday ahead of his comeback two days later. The club subsequently agreed that Barba did not have time to travel from his Cronulla home to the northern beaches facility because of his footballing commitments and began searching for a Sutherland Shire service to continue his rehabilitation. Bulldogs fullback Ben Barba injures his ankle and leaves the field during the Canterbury vs Newcastle game at ANZ Stadium. No such medical counsellor was found and Barba only attended two Bulldogs-run mediation sessions with former partner Ainslie Currie. Ms Currie would not be interviewed by the investigator but her lawyer repeated her earlier public denials that an assault ever took place. Well-placed sources allege the Bulldogs reluctantly gave up on their attempts to coerce Barba to continue rehabilitation with medical professionals, instead planning an exit strategy that ultimately resulted in Barba being released from the final two years of his contract to join the Brisbane Broncos. The image sent by text by Ainslie Currie.