$1000-a-week Broncos lifeline that saved Gehamat Shibasaki’s NRL career and sparked rise to Origin arena
A little over a year ago, Gehamat Shibasaki was on the verge of hanging up the boots for good. However, a move to Brisbane on a $1000-a-week salary sparked a resurgence from the rugby league scrap heap to the Origin arena.
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Maroons bolter Gehamat Shibasaki has gone from a $1000-a-week lifeline to a $30,000 State of Origin jackpot.
Shibasaki will cap one of the NRL’s great redemption stories when he makes his Origin debut for Queensland in next Wednesday’s series decider.
The Broncos journeyman bolted from the clouds to clinch the Maroons No.4 jersey for the series finale against the NSW Blues at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
A little over a year ago, Shibasaki was staring at the rugby league scrap heap.
After managing only 29 NRL games over six years, and a stint in Japanese rugby during Covid, he returned to his hometown of Townsville to take up a job as a youth support worker and play reserve grade.
That’s when ‘Gem’ decided to have one last crack at the NRL and landed a train-and-trial contract at the Broncos under new coach Michael Maguire.
Shibasaki, 26, moved back to Brisbane with no guarantees and only a $1000-a-week salary to live off as he chased his NRL dream with the Broncos, who he made his NRL debut for in 2018.
To put it in perspective, some of his Brisbane teammates earn about $20,000-a-week.
The strapping Shibasaki convinced Maguire he was worthy of a round 1 start and hasn’t looked back since, scoring 12 tries in 15 games, including three straight doubles, to earn a Queensland call-up and $30,000 Origin match fee.
Shibasaki thought he was only going to be part of Queensland’s extended squad when he received a phone call from Maroons coach Billy Slater on Sunday night.
“He wasn’t overly emotional. He is 26 and quite mature, he speaks confidently,” Slater said.
“It was a great phone call. Initially he thought it was being part of the squad, but I said ‘no mate, you’re playing for Queensland’.
“You can tell it’s been a dream of his for a long time growing up in Townsville.
“He’s earnt the opportunity. I reiterated that. He’s here because of the actions he put in through the pre-season that earned him a spot in the Broncos.
“He’s playing consistent football and he’s a great defender with good principles. He’s a big body.”
Shibasaki’s opportunity arose after Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga (foot) was ruled out of the decider.
Instead of recalling Broncos fullback Reece Walsh, Slater will shift Dolphins flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow from the wing to fullback.
Valentine Holmes will go to the wing and Shibasaki will start in his preferred position of left centre, where he has been on fire for the Broncos.
After bagging a third straight double against the Warriors, Shibasaki said he was making the most of his NRL lifeline with the Broncos.
“I lost my way last year,” Shibasaki said.
“I was going to hang the boots up but I wanted to have one more crack and this is more of an all-or-nothing mentality.
“I didn’t have anything guaranteed so I had to work hard.”
The rest is history and Slater said Shibasaki’s resurrection was an inspirational story.
“The individuals in this team give our people inspiration and inspire our state. Gehamat’s story is an inspiration,” he said.
“Six months ago he was on a train and trial contract at the Broncos. The rise of his game over the last six months has been exceptional.
“I told him last night you need two things to play for Queensland – you need to be capable and have the habits, the second is the opportunity to be put in front of you.
“Those two things presented on the weekend (through Ponga’s injury).
“It’ll be a dream come true.”
Shibasaki wouldn’t have received a call-up if Slater opted to go with Walsh at fullback.
But the coach said Tabuai-Fidow deserved his first start in the No.1 jersey for Queensland given his form this year, which included four tries against South Sydney on Saturday night.
“It’s the right fit for the team right now,” he said.
“He’s in a great stage of his career.
“Reece is a great player, there’s no one more proud to see Reece back on the field and doing what he’s doing.
“It’s a great luxury to have both of them in camp. I don’t think you can make a wrong decision but it’s the best fit for the team.
“Hammer deserves his opportunity to play in the number one.”
Originally published as $1000-a-week Broncos lifeline that saved Gehamat Shibasaki’s NRL career and sparked rise to Origin arena
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