Inside the Broncos’ uphill battle to retain resurgent Maroons bolter
Broncos cult hero turned Queensland Maroons bolter Gehamat Shibasaki has revealed decisions on his future will be determined by what is best for his family, as Brisbane face a salary-cap squeeze to retain his services.
The journeyman has garnered an extensive following, endeared by his story of resilience and perseverance after managing just 30 NRL games across six seasons before returning to Red Hill on a train-and-trial deal.
Admitting he was too unfit at the start of the preseason, Shibasaki dug deep and unseated Selwyn Cobbo and Deine Mariner in the backline, before garnering his maiden State of Origin call-up for Queensland’s game three triumph.
Off contract at the end of 2026, Shibasaki stressed he was “just looking to the rest of this year”, and had not launched extension talks yet.
But he admitted that while he wanted to stay in Brisbane, the 27-year-old father would need to factor in his family’s long-term security.
“I’ll focus on that when the time comes, but that’s another thing I’ve got to sit down with my family and talk about, because you look at my age now, I’m sort of coming to the older side of things,” Shibasaki said ahead of his side’s Friday night clash with Parramatta.
“Off the back of the footy season, that will sort itself out, and my footy manager will sort all that stuff out. When it comes to that, I’ll think about it.
“But what I have been doing is narrowing my focus to now and staying present. I think that’s a big part of my success so far, so my focus is on the rest of the year and then finals.
“The Broncos mean a lot to me, I’ve backed them since I was a little kid, and I still kick myself now – me and my brothers talk about how I get to be here and get to be part of this great club.”
While the Broncos will no doubt wish to keep Shibasaki, they will need to contend with a roster balancing act to do so, with clubs expected to line up for his services after his meteoric ascent.
Brisbane Broncos contracts
2025: Kobe Hetherington, Corey Jensen (both reportedly in extension talks), Selwyn Cobbo (to Dolphins), Israel Leota (reportedly to Super Rugby Pacific), Tyson Smoothy (Super League), Delouise Hoeter, Cory Paix, Fletcher Baker, Jack Gosiewski, Jaiyden Hunt (undecided)
2026: Payne Haas, Gehamat Shibasaki, Billy Walters, Adam Reynolds, Ben Hunt, Jesse Arthars, Jock Madden, Coby Black
2027: Ben Te Kura, Blake Mozer, Brendan Piakura, Deine Mariner, Grant Anderson, Jordan Riki, Josiah Karapani, Xavier Willison
2028: Kotoni Staggs, Pat Carrigan
2029: Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam
It took an honest conversation with Broncos teammate Pat Carrigan to lure Shibasaki away from the Townsville Blackhawks and back to Brisbane, where his renaissance has taken place, with 12 tries, 13 linebreaks and 61 tackle busts from 16 appearances.
But Carrigan insisted he would not begrudge his close friend if he felt he needed to move for the good of his family.
“This club’s a massive part of both of us, it’s where we both left school as young kids and started together, and where he’s resurrected his career and transcended into the player he is today,” Carrigan said.
“To be honest, he’s been tormenting us since we were 12 or 13 – he’s been the same size and had that much potential. His dedication this preseason was second to none. He had some lean days there early on, when I think he was a few laps behind the boys and he well and truly could have quit.
“I’d love to see him stay, but I don’t get too involved in those decisions. I think these days, supporting your family in rugby league comes into things, and he’s going to have to make up his mind.
“But one thing I do know for sure is, he does love this club, and every time he pulls on this jersey, you’ll see the best of him.”
