Brisbane centre Gehamat Shibasaki has thanked Michael Maguire for reviving his career after starting the season on a train-and-trial contract and finishing with a premiership and a Kangaroo jersey.

Shibasaki was one of seven debutants named in the 24-man Australian squad for the upcoming Ashes series against England – but none could be considered as big a bolter as the Broncos journeyman.

The 27-year-old didn’t even have an NRL contract at the start of the season but he was given a chance by Maguire and this year played 25 of his 55 matches since debuting in 2018.

A two-try hero in Sunday night’s epic 26-22 grand final defeat of the Storm, Shibasaki also earned a Queensland Origin call-up along the way and is set to make his Test debut at Wembley on October 25.


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“I can’t believe the year I have had,” Shibasaki told NRL.com. “I have come along way and worked so hard.

“A big credit to Madge, he has been a big help to me on and off the field. He changed me as a player.”

After making his NRL debut for the Broncos in 2018, Shibasaki was selected for the Prime Minister’s XIII to play Papua New Guinea.

He played 12 more games for Brisbane in 2019 before stints at Newcastle, North Queensland and South Sydney. 

Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters said Shibasaki’s selection was a credit to his resilience and determination over a long period of time.








“He’d had one crack at the NRL and lost his way a little bit, but he’s had a second chance and made the most of it,” Walters said.

“We saw him play outstanding football in the State of Origin series, and then in the Broncos’ run in the past six weeks he has been one of their go-to players.

“To have two tries in a grand final, he has virtually forced his way into the squad.”

Walters faces some major selection headaches ahead of the first Test in London, with Nathan Cleary, Mitchell Moses, Cameron Munster, Tom Dearden and Ethan Strange vying for spots in the halves.

One of the five is likely to be chosen as the bench utility, interchanging at dummy-half with vice-captain Harry Grant or Blayke Brailey, who was chosen as the back-up hooker for the three Test series.  

Clive Churchill Medallist Reece Walsh is also expected to make his Test debut at fullback, ahead of Penrith’s Dylan Edwards.


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Broncos team-mate Kotoni Staggs is the only specialist centre named in the Australian squad, besides Shibasaki, although Sydney Roosters winger Mark Mark Nawaqanitawase and Parramatta’s Zac Lomax can play both positions.

Nawaqanitawase, the NRL’s 2025 leading tryscorer, and Lomax, who has been a regular fixture on the wing in the NSW team for the past two years, are likely to be vying for one position, with Xavier Coates to play on the left wing if he is fit.

The Storm star was in a moon boot after Sunday night’s grand final and officials are awaiting the results of scans.








Kangaroos captain Isaah Yeo, the 2024 IRL Golden Boot winner, will play lock, with Angus Crichton and Hudson Young expected to start in the secondrow and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Pat Carrigan up front.

The remaining forwards are Bulldogs secondrower Jacob Preston, Roosters prop Lindsay Collins, Panthers frontrower Lindsay Smith and two hybrids, Cowboys captain Reuben Cotter and South Sydney’s Keon Koloamatagi, who can play middle or edge.   

Walters said his focus was on winning the Ashes rather than looking to next year’s World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

“What happens next year, or in two years, is out of my control,” Walters said. “What I can control is the selection of this team for the next Ashes series.