As the inaugural season of the Perth Bears approaches, Gehamat Shibasaki recognizes the significance of growing rugby league in a predominantly AFL region.
Previously unaware of rugby league's foothold in Western Australia, Shibasaki sees the potential for the sport to flourish, stating, "I just know Western Australia would be an AFL-dominated place."
At the WARL junior grand finals, he expressed enthusiasm about the local community's passion for rugby league, calling it "unreal."
Shibasaki is eager to contribute to the Perth Bears, saying, "I want to be a part of the new thing; I don't want to miss out."
Looking ahead to the 2027 season, he is excited about the upcoming challenges, noting, "I tried the new kit on yesterday, and I'm pretty keen to get out there and play next year."
A major draw for Shibasaki was the opportunity to work under revered coach Mal Meninga, who sees Shibasaki as a key player for the team's development.
"It's Mal Meninga, you know, he's a legend of this game, so it's pretty exciting being coached by Mal," Shibasaki remarked.
He expressed a desire to immerse himself in the culture and history of the sport, stating, "I'm about learning a lot about the history and stuff like that too, and that's another thing I want to get right into too."