Brisbane Broncos reward Gehamat Shibasaki’s hard work and determination

Seven years, four clubs and two codes after he made his NRL debut at the Broncos, Gehamat Shibasaki is finally delivering on the talent that he displayed as a junior.

Comeback kid Gehamat Shibasaki admits he took it all for granted and has vowed to repay Broncos coach Michael Maguire for the $80,000 lifeline that has saved his NRL career.

Shibasaki has emerged as one of the bargain buys of the NRL season after a stunning man-of-the-match performance to spearhead Brisbane’s 20-12 derby defeat of the Dolphins on Friday night.

The 97kg centre turned Suncorp Stadium into his personal playground as he monstered the Dolphins with two tries, 174 metres, nine tackle busts and three line breaks to win the Battle Medal.

It caps a remarkable revival for Shibasaki, a four-club journeyman who arrived at Red Hill last summer on a train-and-trial deal, but has broken through to start the opening month as Brisbane’s first-choice left centre.

Maguire has been so impressed by Shibasaki’s commitment that he has been upgraded to a development deal, with the 26-year-old to be promoted to a full-time NRL contract in 2026.

Gehamat Shibasaki was awarded the 'Battle Medal' as best on ground against the Dolphins on Friday night.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 28: Gehamat Shibasaki of the Broncos scores a try during the round four NRL match between Dolphins and Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, on March 28, 2025, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Handed his Brisbane debut by Wayne Bennett way back in 2018, Shibasaki is relishing his second coming at the Broncos and was blown away by a Battle Medal win that is sweet reward for his new attitude.

“I am truly honoured. It was my first Redcliffe derby,” Shibasaki said of his two-try heroics.

“I have been part of a couple of Cowboys derbies and that has always been good because I am from Townsville but a Redcliffe derby was good.

“I was surprised (to win the Medal). I just focused on my job. I thought I was playing average footy.

“He (Maguire) can see the hard work I am putting in. He doesn’t see how many games you’ve played or what rep teams you have made.

“If you put the hard work in at training and buy into the culture he is going to give you a chance. He has given me a chance and now I am going to try and keep going and be consistent.

“I took it for granted when I was younger.”

Gehamat Shibasaki (R) pictured with Corey Oates at training in 2018. Picture: Dan Peled

A lack of talent has never been Shibasaki’s problem.

As a junior, he was named in the Queensland under-20s team a record three times, a feat that suggested he was on the road to NRL stardom.

But Shibasaki struggled to take the next step, playing just 30 games in six years as he was chewed up and spat out by the Broncos, Newcastle, Souths and the Cowboys.

The descendant of a Japanese pearl diver who emigrated to the Torres Strait in the late 1800s, Shibasaki even moved to the Land of the Rising Sun in 2022, playing four games of Japanese rugby.

But after scoring three tries for Green Rockets Tokatsu during the global Covid crisis, Shibasaki craved a return to Australia.

“I was in Japanese rugby in Covid,” he said.

“I was getting homesick and wanted to come back.

“When I did come back the game had gotten too fast and the prep to come back into first grade was too different.

“I got injured and was lucky to be back home (in Townsville) to get my head space right. I had a year off and I thought I’d give it one more crack.

“From ringing Wynnum up and getting a train-and-trial to getting selected for round one (for the Broncos) was a long shot, but all the hard work I did is now paying off.”

Shibasaki plays his 35th NRL game against the Wests Tigers this Saturday night and says the penny has dropped.

“I am a bit older now,” he said.

“I have realised the change (needed) in my preparation, my responsibilities at home and at training.

“I am one of the older ones now (at the Broncos).

“We have a lot of young boys at training so I want to show a good example with my prep and what it takes to be a professional athlete.

“I am truly grateful for coming back. I am back this year and I don’t want to let go of it. I missed this joint.”