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Ben Barba says leaving Canterbury to join Brisbane was the hardest decision he's had to make and he would've walked away from the NRL if his ex-partner hadn't moved to another club's area.
Barba will link up with the Broncos at the start of next season after the club took over the terms of his existing deal with the Bulldogs and paid them compensation, believed to be around $300,000, to secure the 2012 Dally M Medallist.
The 24-year-old was granted a release due to family reasons as his ex-partner is moving back to Queensland with their two daughters and the superstar fullback says he would have moved anywhere in the country to be near his children.
"My ex-partner has a lot of family and friends there (in Brisbane) and luckily she moved there, it wasn't really my choice," Barba said.
"If she had moved to Perth I probably would be sitting out now and not playing rugby league I would have had to go and try out with the (AFL's) West Coast (Eagles)."
Barba said he's had nothing but support from his teammates who were fully behind his reasons for leaving the club.
"Most of them are fathers and it was pretty easy for them to understand," said Barba.
"They're glad that I am happy and the choice has been made.
"We're all grown men here and I said to the players when I first came back this year after my problems that if they had a problem with me to come and have a talk one on one so I could explain myself.
"But none of them have so I took that as they are all sweet."
Bulldogs coach Des Hasler said he was undecided on who he would consider to replace Barba next year.
The club have been linked with Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne and lost out on sacked Canberra star Josh Dugan to St George Illawarra.
Canberra bad boy Blake Ferguson is another player who the Bulldogs are believed to be interested in.
The Raiders star is currently at odds with his club, who have stopped his wages after he failed to turn up for training or answer phone calls.
When asked if he wanted to sign him, Hasler replied: "Have they found him yet?"
Barba will link up with the Broncos at the start of next season after the club took over the terms of his existing deal with the Bulldogs and paid them compensation, believed to be around $300,000, to secure the 2012 Dally M Medallist.
The 24-year-old was granted a release due to family reasons as his ex-partner is moving back to Queensland with their two daughters and the superstar fullback says he would have moved anywhere in the country to be near his children.
"My ex-partner has a lot of family and friends there (in Brisbane) and luckily she moved there, it wasn't really my choice," Barba said.
"If she had moved to Perth I probably would be sitting out now and not playing rugby league I would have had to go and try out with the (AFL's) West Coast (Eagles)."
Barba said he's had nothing but support from his teammates who were fully behind his reasons for leaving the club.
"Most of them are fathers and it was pretty easy for them to understand," said Barba.
"They're glad that I am happy and the choice has been made.
"We're all grown men here and I said to the players when I first came back this year after my problems that if they had a problem with me to come and have a talk one on one so I could explain myself.
"But none of them have so I took that as they are all sweet."
Bulldogs coach Des Hasler said he was undecided on who he would consider to replace Barba next year.
The club have been linked with Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne and lost out on sacked Canberra star Josh Dugan to St George Illawarra.
Canberra bad boy Blake Ferguson is another player who the Bulldogs are believed to be interested in.
The Raiders star is currently at odds with his club, who have stopped his wages after he failed to turn up for training or answer phone calls.
When asked if he wanted to sign him, Hasler replied: "Have they found him yet?"
