Michael Maguire insists Gehamat Shibasaki still has a future at the Brisbane Broncos despite the Test and Origin player being dumped to the bench for Friday night’s clash with Melbourne. And the Broncos coach has slammed the “garbage” criticism from Gorden Tallis directed at Adam Reynolds.
The Broncos will be without Reynolds for the NRL grand final rematch after he injured his ribs in Round 2 against Parramatta. Tallis took aim at the Broncos captain over the weekend for flying down to Sydney for his TV role with Fox Sports, which Tallis claimed wasn’t in the best interests of getting his recovery right and giving him the best chance to play against the Storm.
Michael Maguire has dumped Gehamat Shibasaki to the bench. Image: AAP
But Maguire has now fired back at Tallis amid an ongoing war-of-words between the coach and club legend. “The talk about him not looking after himself is the biggest load of garbage,” Maguire told The Courier Mail on Wednesday.
“I’d prefer to stay away from this conversation because I reckon it’s laughable, it really is. We saw doctors and physios and they assured Adam he would be OK to travel. He did a session on Saturday and did a session on Sunday (after his TV appearance).”
Despite naming Reynolds at halfback on Tuesday afternoon, Maguire confirmed reports won’t play. The coach said the champion No.7 didn’t pull up well after a training session later on Tuesday, and won’t travel to Melbourne.
“If it was a grand final, Reyno would have played, but it’s a long season,” Maguire said. “He is that committed. He is actually devastated he’s not coming, which is a good sign because it shows ‘Reyno’ is so passionate about playing.”
Adam Reynolds won’t play against Melbourne due to a rib issue.
(AAPIMAGE)Gehamat Shibasaki not being forced out of Broncos
Meanwhile, Maguire believes Shibasaki will work his way back into the starting team and still has plenty to offer. The journeyman centre had a fairytale season in 2025, winning the State of Origin series with Queensland, NRL premiership with the Broncos and Ashes series with the Kangaroos.
But his defence hasn’t been up to scratch so far in 2026, and Maguire has dumped him to the bench for the game against the Storm. Deine Mariner shuffles to centre with former Storm player Grant Anderson named on the wing to face his former club.
Making the situation even more difficult for Shibasaki is the fact he’s without a contract for 2027. He’s only on the league-minimum wage in 2026 and will likely earn a monster upgrade from a rival club if he doesn’t get the money he wants at the Broncos.
But Maguire insists his axing from the starting team isn’t a sign that Shibasaki is on the way out. “Not at all,” the coach said. “I do hold ‘Shibba’ in high regard and he’ll be outstanding again. Shibba and I have a really good relationship in that regard and I know he can put himself right back where he needs to be if he stays focused.”
Maguire confirmed it was Shibasaki’s sub-par defence that saw him dropped. Broncos legend Sam Thaiday said on Tuesday that Shibasaki might benefit from a stint in reserve grade if he takes it the right way and vows to fight back.