Shibasaki now ‘considering’ leaving Broncos after $300K gap in expectations

Gehamat Shibasaki has said he’s “considering” leaving the Brisbane Broncos at the end of the season after he asked for a $600,000 a year extension and was instead offered just $300K a year to play on for the NRL champions.

The 28-year-old had a breakout year through 2025, with his explosive rise at Red Hill one of the many reasons that helped the Broncos on to a shock premiership victory. That fairytale may be quickly coming to an end, though, with the centre on the outer in Brisbane and unlikely to get the valuation he wants on his next playing contract.

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He was on a train-and-trial deal in 2025 after winning a spot in the preseason and earned $160,000 through the championship year – even as he went on to break into the Queensland State of Origin team and play in a series victory.

Twelve months on, he’s in the Origin squad again but won’t be playing, and only broke back into Michael Maguire’s Brisbane side after injuries opened the way; before that, he’d been dropped. The powerbrokers at Red Hill obviously don’t rate him that highly either, because they’ve offered him $300,000 to play on — and now he’s exploring options.

“I haven’t figured anything out yet,” Shibasaki said. “I’m just playing footy and trying to do what I can for the boys each week. I’m a dad first, so family first… I’ve got a family to look after, so that’s my main priority.

“I’d consider [leaving],” he added on his current contract stance. “I’m pretty open to anywhere.”

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The Sporting Base understands the PNG Chiefs and Perth Bears have both informally spoken to Shibasaki’s agent, and may offer proper offers to the 28-year-old, though if he wanted to take up the Papua New Guinea offer, he’d have to find a one-year deal somewhere else for 2026. That, at very least, puts the Bears in the driver’s seat for any immediate deal.

There have been some suggestions that he could play for the Bears in their first year, before heading over and doing the same for the Chiefs, but Shibasaki wants stability about where he and his family will be living long term.

Even just in that regard, the Perth offer seems to be the stronger of the two right now.