Canterbury Bulldogs star Ben Barba hits back at all the rumours Bulldogs star Ben Barba has broken his silence about his issues, the rumours and his aspirations. BEN Barba wants to play State of Origin this season and for the Kangaroos at the World Cup in October. He's also determined to help revive the Bulldogs' NRL finals campaign and to see out the remaining three years of his Canterbury contract. Last year's Dally M champion spoke to The Daily Telegraph Sports Editor-at-Large Phil Rothfield, slamming rumours of unrest at Belmore. Q: How you been feeling. Are you on the way back? A: I'm feeling a lot better. It's good to be back playing footy. Q: What about all the rumours of internal trouble at Canterbury? I keep hearing blokes want to quit, you included. Fight at training. All that sort of stuff. A: When the team's not going well, people start rumours everywhere. Everyone's fine. We all know we're not going too well at the moment. It's frustrating but we're looking forward to the challenge of getting things back to the way they were last season. Q: So what's your own situation at Canterbury? Everyone's saying you're unhappy and want out. A: I've got another three years at the club. I'm not sure why all this other stuff is even being mentioned. Q: So you're committed to stay for the full length of your contract. A: Absolutely. I wanted a long-term deal so I didn't have to worry about it. I just want to focus on my footy. As long as I'm happy at the club, I'm willing to stay. Ben Barba has quashed rumours he and Frank Pritchard were having issues. Q: There were reports you had a blue with Frank Pritchard and you weren't getting on with a few other players. Has that all been patched up. A: I'm not sure where all that came from. Frankie is one of the closest players to me. I call him uncle and he calls me nephew. It's a strange world that people would suggest we've fallen out. Q: It's probably a good thing you're clearing their air. It's what Bulldogs fans want to hear. A: Yes I agree, I'm glad to get the chance to have my say rather than just leaving it to my team mates to answer the questions. It's important the fans know the true story about what's really going on. Q: Are you guys still a hope for the finals. You've had an awful start with just one win. A: We definitely haven't given up hope. The entire playing group is still aiming to make the finals. We know we've got the side to do it. We've got to string back to back wins together and then I know we've got the side to go on with it. Q: Personally, what about your own form? It must have been difficult after missing the first month. A: It was always going to be tough coming back four rounds into it. Dessie and I knew it wasn't going to happen for me straight away. I know at times I might have looked frustrated on the field. I probably am a bit because I'm not happy with the way I'm playing at the moment. I've still got to work hard to catch up with everyone else. I felt every week I missed I was letting the boys down. Ben Barba in action against the Roosters on the weekend. Q: Did you lose fitness while you were out of the game? A: It's quite funny. I actually came back a little bit fitter because the place I was at also housed people with eating disorders. I was eating better meals than I did when I was in the real world. Q: How you feeling generally? I know it's a long battle. A: It is a long battle and I'm still required to see people every week. I've got to work hard at it for months. I can't just push it aside and forget all about it or all the problems could start coming back. Q: I've got to ask you this: There were some terrible rumours that you had hit your partner. A: At the time I couldn't do anything about it. I wasn't allowed to talk to anyone. They were just rumours. People want to look for stories. My missus cleared the air and confirmed nothing happened. Q: I guess Ainslee (Currie) will remain important as the mother of your children? A: One of the things I wanted to do was make sure that our relationship was always 100 per cent. We are the parents of two beautiful young girls. If we can be happy together, they'll understand we're still the best of friends. Q: So you do remain friends? A: Yes, absolutely. We've got to for the girls. It's pretty important. Q: What are your goals for the rest of the year? A: Obviously, I still want to play Origin this year. I've got a few games left to prove myself to the Queensland selectors for the first game. There's the World Cup at the end of the year too. It's a long way off and I've got to focus on my club football first before any of that happens. Q: Have you got a message for Canterbury fans? A: Keep believing on us. We all know what we are capable of. We are going through a tough time at the moment but I can assure them we haven't given up hope. Barba spoke to Peter Sterling on Fox Sports about his much-publicised binges with the Epic Bender Crew. A: I think when I was feeling down or feeling blue, my only way of escaping was drinking alcohol or gambling an excess amount and it was my only way of escaping. .. I joined a crew, a drinking crew, which they spotlighted in the media. It wasn't so much me joining a crew, it was just me being with a group of mates who I enjoy having a beer with and I guess it wasn't them to be blamed - it was me: the person doing all the drinking and trying to escape from all the problems in football I was having.