LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
New information has surfaced regarding the decision by the Brisbane Broncos to drop Gehamat Shibasaki for their final game against the Melbourne Storm. Speculation hints that Craig Bellamy may be excited about the player stepping in for him.
On Tuesday afternoon, fans were taken aback when Shibasaki was listed as a reserve, rather than playing in his usual center position. The Broncos issued a statement explaining that Shibasaki's removal was due to a "breach of team standards."
The club stated: "Gehamat Shibasaki has lost his spot in the starting line-up for Thursday night's game against the Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium. This follows a breach of Broncos team standards, which has been dealt with internally. Shibasaki has been named at 22 in the extended playing squad."
Reports from AAP and News Corp indicated that Shibasaki had a night of heavy drinking on Sunday and was unable to participate in Monday's training session. The Broncos secured a 38-30 victory over North Queensland on Saturday night. However, the disciplinary issue is unrelated to events during the trip to Townsville, as the team returned to Brisbane on Sunday morning.
Coach Michael Maguire is said to have conferred with CEO Dave Donaghy before deciding to bench Shibasaki. It appears the decision was backed by the rest of the team as well.
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Shibasaki made his State of Origin debut for Queensland earlier this year, taking advantage of an unexpected opportunity provided by Broncos coach Michael Maguire. The 27-year-old has emerged as one of the standout stories of 2025, moving from relative obscurity to becoming a key player for both the Broncos and winners for the Maroons in the Origin series.