Brisbane Broncos

Shibasaki breaks silence on Madge after Broncos exit

by
Harvey Emanuel-Wall
September 11, 2026

Brisbane Broncos centre Gehamat Shibasaki is joining Perth Bears.

Brisbane Broncos confirmed the departures of eight players following the end of their 2026 campaign.

One of the players who left Suncorp is 2025 grand final hero, Gehamat Shibasaki.

Signed on a train-and-trial deal ahead of last year, Shibasaki scored 17 tries and helped the Broncos become premiers in a breakout season.

His form him earn saw call-ups for both Queensland and the Kangaroos, before ending the campaign with the winning try in the grand final.

Gehamat Shibasaki thrived for the Broncos in 2025. Credit: Imago

This year has been a different story for Shibasaki though. Playing just 16 games, the centre has found himself down the pecking order after a drop in form.

Scoring just three tries all year, the 28-year-old failed to earn the new Broncos deal he desired with the club only offering half of the $500,000 per season his management demanded.

His exit was confirmed mid-season, as Shibasaki signed a $1 million deal across two seasons with the Perth Bears – the NRL’s 18th team who will enter the competition next season.

Rumours suggested that both head coach Michael Maguire and Shibasaki himself were unhappy at how negotiations played out.

While Madge believed Shibasaki should have shown loyalty to the Broncos for saving his career, the centre, who was keen to stay at Brisbane, was disappointed at the club’s low-ball offer.

Despite reports of unrest and Shibasaki ending the year on the interchange bench, the player has now broken his silence on the move.

“I appreciate the Broncos – they really re-lit my career,” he said. “I appreciate that Madge tried to bring me up in a different part of my career.

“Madge tried to teach me what it meant to be a professional athlete and being a leader as well.”

Shibasaki made room to only praise Maguire in an interview with his new club, as the move to Western Australia presents a fresh start for a player capable of producing at the highest level.

“I tried the new (Bears) kit on the other day and can’t wait to play next year. Mal Meninga (Perth Bears head coach) is a legend of the game.

“It will be exciting being coached by someone like Mal, and I can’t wait for that.”

Shibasaki will face tough competition to nail down the centre spot at his new club, with Nick Meaney, Chris Vea’ila, Harry Newman and Sean Russell all signed by the Bears.