Dual-code Australian representative Lote Tuqiri has come under fire on social media after posting his controversial thoughts on Ben Barba’s effective dismissal from rugby league.

Tuqiri took to Twitter to share his sympathy for Barba about his exiling.

Tuqiri twittered quote “say what you want about Ben Barba but today he’s been stripped of something he really loved doing and one of the things he’d be most passionate about” unquote.

He adds he feels sad for Barba today and hopes he can find something that fills that void.

Barba was deregistered from the NRL yesterday after an incident involving his partner at a Townsville casino over the weekend.