It has been a remarkable season for Broncos centre Gehamat Shibasaki, who has gone from fringe first grader to Queensland Origin player in just a matter of months.
In 16 appearances for the Broncos in 2025, the in-form centre has racked up a career-best 12 tries—with several games still left in the regular season to add to his tally.
Shibasaki’s blistering form was rewarded by Maroons coach Billy Slater, who somewhat controversially, showed full faith in his ability by selecting him for the decider in this year’s Origin series.
But the meteoric rise from journeyman to Origin representative could come at a significant cost for the Broncos, with Shibasaki now potentially out of their price range.
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Although contracted until the end of 2026, the in-demand centre will be free to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1—and so far, there has been no offer of an extension from Brisbane.
With big-money players like Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan up front, and a star-studded spine that includes Ezra Mam, Ben Hunt, Adam Reynolds, and Reece Walsh, there is little salary cap flexibility—something that has been a recurring theme in the Broncos’ roster management in recent seasons.
To stay competitive, the club has leaned heavily on budget signings and developing depth players, with much of their current success—sitting fifth on the ladder—coming from the impact of players like Shibasaki, Jesse Arthars, and Josiah Karapani.
That pressure has already forced the Broncos into difficult calls, with representative back Selwyn Cobbo signing with the Dolphins for 2026 after the club was only able to offer a modest contract with a significant pay cut from his current deal.
Shibasaki’s path to success has been anything but linear, having spent time in short-term stints with the Knights, Cowboys, and Rabbitohs without locking down a consistent first-grade role—until now.
With a clear shortage of quality centres across the NRL, and the added exposure of Origin selection, there’s no doubt that multiple clubs will come calling at season’s end to vie for Shibasaki’s signature.
Right now, it seems increasingly unlikely that the Broncos will be able to match what other clubs are prepared to offer—a potentially big blow if Shibasaki continues to develop into one of the competition’s more reliable outside backs.