Jonah Pezet’s reported move to the Broncos in 2027 will have ramifications on a number of other players, and Gehamat Shibasaki looms as the most likely man to make way. Shibasaki has been the cinderella story of the 2025 season, working his way into Michael Maguire’s starting side before becoming a premiership player and State of Origin champion with Queensland.
On Tuesday night he was also named to make his Test debut for Australia in Saturday night’s first Ashes Test against England. It’s been one of the best rags to riches stories in recent NRL memory, but it means Shibasaki is looking at a staggering pay rise that Brisbane are unlikely to be able to afford.
Gehamat Shibasaki (R) will be the most likely casualty of Jonah Pezet’s (L) move to the Brisbane Broncos. Image: AAP/Getty
The 27-year-old was only on a development contract in 2025, meaning the Broncos only had to pay him $85,000. He’ll get upgraded to the league minimum in 2026, but will still only be on $140,000.
Shibasaki is only contracted until the end of 2026, meaning he becomes a free agent for 2027 on November 1. The Perth Bears are expected to throw big money at him to leave the Broncos, who have a well-documented salary cap crunch and are long-odds to be able to match rival offers.
Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam, Kotoni Staggs and Pat Carrigan are all tied up long-term on big money, while the Broncos are also doing everything in their power to extend Payne Haas. It’s been reported that R360 are willing to offer Haas as much as $3 million for one season, meaning he won’t come cheap for the Broncos to keep him.
Gehamat Shibasaki will earn a whopping pay rise that Brisbane are unlikely to be able to afford. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Jonah Pezet will take money Shibasaki could have received
Speaking earlier this month, former Broncos coach Kevin Walters was asked if the NRL premiers would be able to keep their team together long-term. When it was suggested they’d have to part ways with Shibasaki, Walters pointed out that Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt are likely to retire at the end of 2026, which would free up cash for Shibasaki.
But Pezet is likely to take that money if he joins in 2027, and the in-demand halfback won’t come cheap. The 22-year-old will likely be on the same money that Reynolds and Hunt were on combined, meaning Shibasaki will likely have to look elsewhere to get what he deserves to be paid.
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His agent Wade Rushton said earlier this year: “Gehamat loves the Broncos after the season he has had and is contracted to them for next season. But they haven’t been able to make him an offer beyond that, and so on November 1, I’m expecting quite a few clubs to show formal interest.”
Broncos coach Michael Maguire said this week: “That’s a challenge for any successful club (retaining players). That will sort itself out. The good thing is we have the majority of our team signed for next year … Players want to play at the Broncos. It is a great club, a special place and a special town.”
Jonah Pezet will reportedly move to the Broncos in 2027 after a one-year stint at Parramatta. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Broncos won’t be able to keep everyone
The Broncos need only look at the Panthers to realise how hard it will be to keep their premiership-winning team together. Penrith’s run of four-straight titles saw them lose the likes of Stephen Crichton, Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau, Jarome Luai, Spencer Leniu and James Fisher-Harris at various stages.
Leading reporter Ben Dobbin said after the grand final: “Will they have some dramas with the salary cap? They either have to offload someone or Gehamat is in all sorts.”
Walters responded: “This is the problem when you get success. With this Broncos team, because of their ages and where they’re at in their careers, [they’re going to be cherry-picked by rival clubs]. Some are going to fall away, you can’t [keep everyone].”
According to reports, Pezet will sign a one-year deal with Parramatta for 2026 before a long-term move to the Broncos in 2027 to succeed Reynolds. The 22-year-old has a contract with the Melbourne Storm until the end of 2029, but is free to leave because Jahrome Hughes recently re-signed.