After announcing two key extensions in the past week, the Broncos are expected to lose one of their most-improved players for next season.

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Gehamat Shibasaki had a breakout 2025 campaign after starting on a train-and-trial deal, scoring 18 tries to go with 24 linebreaks, to help Brisbane all the way to a premiership.

Unfortunately for the Broncos, it means the reported $160,000 deal he played on needs to be altered and Peter Badel reported late last month that Brisbane was not willing to offer more than $300,000 a season.

Now it sounds like the salary cap squeeze at Red Hill is set to cost the Broncos, with Brent Read reporting on NRL 360 that they have “decided to go in another direction”.

Read said the Broncos had an offer on the table for Shibasaki but that he was asking for “top dollar” and that while they have a number of players they are looking at, the “prime candidate” to replace Shibasaki is Dane Gagai.

Gagai has turned back the clock in an impressive 2026 season, breaking 78 tackles — which ranks the second-most in the NRL at the centre position and has seven try assists.

It would cap off a remarkable reunion for Gagai, who debuted at the Broncos in 2011 and has since gone on to establish himself as one of the best centres in the NRL in his accomplished career.

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Ready makes BOLD call on Madge’s future | 01:40

DOLPHINS GUN DROPS HINT ON FUTURE

Elsewhere, Kodi Nikorima has hinted he will make a call on his future in the “next couple of weeks” as he weighs up offers from rival clubs.

Nikorima has been one of the Dolphins’ best this season but is without a contract beyond this year, and told ESPN that he does have “options elsewhere”.

“I’d love to stay here, Brissy is home,” Nikorima said. “I’m an inaugural player here so I’d love to continue that.

“I obviously know this is a business at the end of the day. I do have options elsewhere, which I’m going through now with my management.

“You guys will soon know in the next couple of weeks.”

It sets up a nervous wait for Dolphins fans given the way Nikorima has combined with halfback Isaiya Katoa this year, although they do have another option after reportedly signing George Williams.

The former Raiders halfback has been playing over in the Super League and is said to have signed a two-year contract with the Dolphins from next year.

Braith calls out ‘CRAZY’ Dolphins move | 02:54

While Williams would be a solid back-up option, Panthers great Greg Alexander said he knows who he would prefer to have moving forward.

“I haven’t seen much Super League but I’ve seen enough of George Williams, and I rate George Williams, I thought he was fantastic when he played for Canberra. (He’s a) great running player, but at the moment Nikorima hands down (is the better option),” Alexander said on 360.

The Dolphins are still hopeful to re-sign the off-contract veteran, but Code Sports reporter Brent Read said the “issue” for Kristian Woolf “is going to be price”.

“Because Kodi on the open market will get more money than at the Dolphins,” he added.