Ben Barba has been told it's time to find a new career after effectively copping a life ban from the NRL.
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg deregistered Barba on Tuesday and said he couldn't foresee any way back for the former Dally M Medallist.
His hardline stance came after the NRL integrity unit viewed CCTV footage of a physical altercation involving Barba and his partner Ainslie Currie at a Townsville casino over the Australia Day weekend.
The 2016 premiership winner had already been sacked by North Queensland over the incident which is under police investigation.
"His registration with the game is no longer and I can't see a time, at any time, in the future that he'll be welcomed back," Greenberg said.
The life ban for Barba after a brilliant career marred by off-field controversies may mark a watershed for the NRL with Greenberg promising an escalation in penalties, particularly for indiscretions involving violence against women, after an off-season littered with ugly headlines.
Player misbehaviour will again be on the agenda when the ARL Commission meets for the first time in 2019 at Rugby League Central on Wednesday.
An emotional Greenberg, who knew Barba from his time as his club CEO at the Bulldogs, said he had not spoken to the 29-year-old but had sent a message to Currie through a third party to offer support and counselling.
The English Super League and Australian Rugby Union have both said they won't offer Barba a career lifeline, leaving European club rugby union as his only option if he wants to continue playing professional football.
"I'm not going to call for (a worldwide ban) but what I am going to say is that in the jurisdiction that I uphold, there's no place for him," Greenberg said.
"It's probably time for Ben to find a new vocation."
Having debuted in 2008, Barba won the 2012 Dally M and led Canterbury to the grand final that year before his career first spiralled out of control.
He was stood down by the Bulldogs to seek help for alcohol and gambling issues, amid rumours of a domestic violence incident.
News Corp published photos of his partner with cuts and bruises to her face, however, she made no complaint to the NRL or the club.
After a stint at Brisbane in 2014, Barba played a leading part in Cronulla's 2016 grand final win, scoring a decisive try in the first-half.
But trouble soon followed as he was suspended for 12 weeks when he recorded his second illicit drugs strike after the Sharks' premiership celebrations.
He landed in French rugby union before he rebuilt his career in the English Super League, winning the Man of Steel award last year, and was offered a one-year deal by the Cowboys.
However he was sacked without ever playing a game for the Townsville-based club.
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