Barba gave a not-so-subtle reminder to Queensland selectors ahead of Origin III by scoring one try and helping set up two others in a dream return to his hometown.
Barba's limited edition signature T-shirts in the merchandise stand at Virgin Australia Stadium flew out ahead of the match.
But he will only have eyes for another piece of clothing - a Maroons jersey - after laying a timely claim to the Queensland No1 jersey expected to be vacated by Billy Slater (knee).
Barba brought the Mackay faithful to their feet when he opened the scoring off a Josh Reynolds kick in the ninth minute.
And the Bulldogs were up 10-0 by halftime after centre Krisnan Inu pounced on a Kris Keating cross-field kick in the 32nd.
Melbourne threatened to keep in touch when winger Anthony Quinn latched on to a Cameron Smith chip in the 47th minute.
They appeared to be over again but video referee Sean Hampstead gave Ryan Hinchcliffe's darting effort in the 53rd minute the red light.
A Barba break set up Inu's second try in the 54th minute before Barba produced something that alone was worth the price of admission.
With five minutes left on the clock Barba cut through four defenders before Josh Morris finished off the length-of-the-field effort.
Dominant displays from Anthony Watmough and Tony Williams and 24 points from skipper Jamie Lyon inspired a Manly victory over Sydney.
Williams, playing his first game for Manly since round three, due to a back injury, took just four minutes to make an impression when he brushed off Mitchell Pearce and Sam Perrett to set up Jorge Taufua for a try.
Watmough, who clocked up more than 120m in the first half, increased the lead four minutes later when he took a Matt Ballin kick to score, with Lyon adding the extras.
A beautifully weighted chip-kick from Williams found Steve Matai, who ran through some feeble defending to score.
And worse was to come for Brian Smith's side when Watmough broke through and ran 40m before setting up Daly Cherry-Evans.
The Roosters crossed the line on halftime when Perrett scored with a Pearce cut-out pass, Braith Anasta's kick cutting the deficit to 24-6.
Smith's side threatened to stage a dramatic fightback with tries from Tom Symonds and Tautau Moga. But Manly sealed the victory with three tries in eight minutes from Dean Whare, Brett Stewart and Jamie Buhrer.
Lyon, who kicked eight goals from nine, added extra gloss to the scoreline when he intercepted a Pearce pass and ran 50m for the visitors' eighth.
He took his side past the 50-point mark with his second try late in the game, outpacing Moga to get a hand on Buhrer's kick.
- AAP
