AdminGehamat Shibasaki may be the next player affected by the salary cap issues at the Brisbane Broncos, as his manager hints at a possible departure. This season has been a remarkable journey for Shibasaki in Brisbane, where he initially began on a train-and-trial contract but caught the attention of coach Michael Maguire, earning a position in the Broncos’ starting lineup.
In 2025, the versatile player has surprised many with his performance in the centre position for Brisbane and received an unexpected selection for Queensland in the Origin series finale, contributing significantly to Billy Slater’s team victory. However, Shibasaki’s existing contract with Brisbane expires at the end of next season, allowing him to negotiate with other clubs starting November 1, unless he secures a new agreement beforehand.
The situation is further complicated by the tight salary cap at the Broncos, who have several star players locked into lucrative contracts and have recently extended agreements with various other athletes. The financial constraints have already led to Selywn Cobbo’s departure to the Dolphins next season, and hooker Cory Paix could also be on the way out, especially with reports indicating Brisbane is close to securing multi-year contracts for forwards Kobe Hetherington and Corey Jensen.
Maguire’s team recently retained captain Adam Reynolds, centre Kotoni Staggs, and developing hooker Blake Mozer after they signed contract extensions. Moreover, a significant portion of the salary cap is committed to prominent players such as Reece Walsh, Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan, Ezra Mam, and veteran Ben Hunt.
Gehamat Shibasaki is anticipated to receive offers from competing teams. Brisbane aims to retain Shibasaki after his outstanding performance in 2025. However, his manager Wade Rushton informed Wide World of Sports that no new offer has been made yet, and they anticipate receiving numerous proposals for the 27-year-old once he becomes a free agent on November 1.
“Gehamat values the Broncos after such a successful season and is signed with them for the next year,” Rushton shared with WWOS. “But they haven’t been able to extend an offer beyond that, so I expect several clubs to express formal interest once November 1 arrives. He’s had an exceptional year and is an inspiring story—he will continue to put in the effort to improve his game. ”
Shibasaki has tallied 12 tries in 16 games during his breakout season with the Broncos in 2025, following a period of not being able to break into the top tier and spending time playing rugby in Japan. He ranks among the top centres in the NRL for line breaks, tackle busts, and average running meters per game, which clearly explains the interest from rival clubs seeking a skilled outside back.
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