Haas ready to face different Shibasaki in Origin arena
Once teenage teammates at the Broncos, Shibasaki and Haas will play on opposing teams in a senior match for just the second time in next week's series decider.
But their path from Brisbane's under-20s team in 2017 to Accor Stadium next Wednesday night couldn't be any more different.
While Haas has been the NRL's best front-rower for the past five years at Brisbane, Shibisaki has been on a rollercoaster ride to crack it in first grade.
Like Haas, the centre debuted at the Broncos in 2018, but then found himself out the door to Newcastle where he also struggled for game time.
A move to Japanese rugby with the Green Rockets Tokatsu followed in 2022, before he took up a train-and-trial deal with the North Queensland Cowboys.
The 26-year-old then spent last year playing Queensland Cup in Townsville and had a week-to-week contract arrangement with South Sydney during their injury crisis.
Another train-and-trial deal came at Brisbane this year, where Shibasaki was reunited with Haas who noticed a big difference.
"He's way more dialled in," Haas said.
"He took his training more seriously, the way he was eating, the way he was preparing for training, it was cool to see.
"I knew he was serious about it. I knew he knew this was his last shot. He took it with both hands and he's never looked back."
The difference is telling.
Shibasaki's selection for Queensland is about as left field as it gets, but it comes in a year where he has scored 12 tries in 15 games for the Broncos.
The centre has become the first player in history to be picked to play Origin while on a development deal, after being upgraded to one from his train-and-trial agreement.
AAP understands the Bronco's current contract sits at just $85,000, but he will be upgraded to become a full-time member of Brisbane's NRL squad next year.
"When I sat down with him on his first training session, I wasn't quite sure where he was going to get to," Broncos coach Michael Maguire said.
"I can't tell you how hard he worked in the pre-season to give himself the opportunity."
Haas insisted Shibasaki's talent had always been there, even if it had taken until seven years after his NRL debut for him to become a top-grade regular.
"He's always been gifted, he was one of the best players growing up when we were kids," Haas said.
"He lost his way a bit the last few years. But he's found his way back and I'm super proud of him.
"He worked so hard, this was his last shot and he's taken it with both hands.
"I just hate that he's a Queenslander."
Payne Haas could see the difference in Queensland State of Origin bolter Gehamat Shibasaki from the moment he arrived at Brisbane this pre-season on a weekly $1000 train-and-trial deal.
Once teenage teammates at the Broncos, Shibasaki and Haas will play on opposing teams in a senior match for just the second time in next week's series decider.
But their path from Brisbane's under-20s team in 2017 to Accor Stadium next Wednesday night couldn't be any more different.
While Haas has been the NRL's best front-rower for the past five years at Brisbane, Shibisaki has been on a rollercoaster ride to crack it in first grade.
Like Haas, the centre debuted at the Broncos in 2018, but then found himself out the door to Newcastle where he also struggled for game time.
A move to Japanese rugby with the Green Rockets Tokatsu followed in 2022, before he took up a train-and-trial deal with the North Queensland Cowboys.
The 26-year-old then spent last year playing Queensland Cup in Townsville and had a week-to-week contract arrangement with South Sydney during their injury crisis.
Another train-and-trial deal came at Brisbane this year, where Shibasaki was reunited with Haas who noticed a big difference.
"He's way more dialled in," Haas said.
"He took his training more seriously, the way he was eating, the way he was preparing for training, it was cool to see.
"I knew he was serious about it. I knew he knew this was his last shot. He took it with both hands and he's never looked back."
The difference is telling.
Shibasaki's selection for Queensland is about as left field as it gets, but it comes in a year where he has scored 12 tries in 15 games for the Broncos.
The centre has become the first player in history to be picked to play Origin while on a development deal, after being upgraded to one from his train-and-trial agreement.
AAP understands the Bronco's current contract sits at just $85,000, but he will be upgraded to become a full-time member of Brisbane's NRL squad next year.
"When I sat down with him on his first training session, I wasn't quite sure where he was going to get to," Broncos coach Michael Maguire said.
"I can't tell you how hard he worked in the pre-season to give himself the opportunity."
Haas insisted Shibasaki's talent had always been there, even if it had taken until seven years after his NRL debut for him to become a top-grade regular.
"He's always been gifted, he was one of the best players growing up when we were kids," Haas said.
"He lost his way a bit the last few years. But he's found his way back and I'm super proud of him.
"He worked so hard, this was his last shot and he's taken it with both hands.
"I just hate that he's a Queenslander."
Payne Haas could see the difference in Queensland State of Origin bolter Gehamat Shibasaki from the moment he arrived at Brisbane this pre-season on a weekly $1000 train-and-trial deal.
Once teenage teammates at the Broncos, Shibasaki and Haas will play on opposing teams in a senior match for just the second time in next week's series decider.
But their path from Brisbane's under-20s team in 2017 to Accor Stadium next Wednesday night couldn't be any more different.
While Haas has been the NRL's best front-rower for the past five years at Brisbane, Shibisaki has been on a rollercoaster ride to crack it in first grade.
Like Haas, the centre debuted at the Broncos in 2018, but then found himself out the door to Newcastle where he also struggled for game time.
A move to Japanese rugby with the Green Rockets Tokatsu followed in 2022, before he took up a train-and-trial deal with the North Queensland Cowboys.
The 26-year-old then spent last year playing Queensland Cup in Townsville and had a week-to-week contract arrangement with South Sydney during their injury crisis.
Another train-and-trial deal came at Brisbane this year, where Shibasaki was reunited with Haas who noticed a big difference.
"He's way more dialled in," Haas said.
"He took his training more seriously, the way he was eating, the way he was preparing for training, it was cool to see.
"I knew he was serious about it. I knew he knew this was his last shot. He took it with both hands and he's never looked back."
The difference is telling.
Shibasaki's selection for Queensland is about as left field as it gets, but it comes in a year where he has scored 12 tries in 15 games for the Broncos.
The centre has become the first player in history to be picked to play Origin while on a development deal, after being upgraded to one from his train-and-trial agreement.
AAP understands the Bronco's current contract sits at just $85,000, but he will be upgraded to become a full-time member of Brisbane's NRL squad next year.
"When I sat down with him on his first training session, I wasn't quite sure where he was going to get to," Broncos coach Michael Maguire said.
"I can't tell you how hard he worked in the pre-season to give himself the opportunity."
Haas insisted Shibasaki's talent had always been there, even if it had taken until seven years after his NRL debut for him to become a top-grade regular.
"He's always been gifted, he was one of the best players growing up when we were kids," Haas said.
"He lost his way a bit the last few years. But he's found his way back and I'm super proud of him.
"He worked so hard, this was his last shot and he's taken it with both hands.
"I just hate that he's a Queenslander."
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It's akin to boxer Bernard Hopkins who said after a controversial loss, 'I'm not going to say I was robbed but has anyone seen my wallet?' Ricky says, 'I won't comment on the record, except to say we are always on the back foot trying to compete against the big clubs who have the [State of] Origin players.' There have been no significant punishments of NRL clubs since Melbourne was punished 15 years ago for the past (stripped of two premierships), the present (could not compete for points in 2010) and the future (forced to shed players). However, Stuart's security at the Raiders where he was a triple premiership player, together with the club's solid financial base, means he is not imprisoned by the salary cap. 'A lot of coaches don't have the same confidence in management that I have,' he says. 'They buy players to win this year, while I get them to build for the future. The Raiders board have shown great faith in me and that gives me confidence.' Canberra's group of young, spirited players is drawing a big following. 'We are pursuing a strategy of identifying young talent and developing our own. The only marquee genuine player the Raiders have ever bought is Mal (Meninga).' It therefore hurts more when locally produced talent is poached, particularly with Canberra being a geographical bulwark against the heavily-resourced AFL. One of those locals is his own son, Jed, who debuted in round 16, scoring a try. Jed was aged around seven when Ricky coached at the Sharks. It was a particularly difficult time for sister Emma who was diagnosed with autism. Danny Robinson, then the general manager of the St George Leagues Club and the Stuart's neighbour, recalls Emma's refusal to go to school, with Ricky forced to sit in the back seat of the car and restrain her, while wife Kaylie drove. Robinson alerted the parents to the great work of Giant Steps, a special education school in Gladesville. Ricky said, 'It saved our family. The two boys (Jed and brother Jackson) were missing out on everything, like going to afternoon sport training. And coaching, as you know, is a 24-hour-a-day job. 'At the back end of my time coaching at Parramatta and Origin, the burden went to other families to take the boys to training.' When Jed debuted, he had Emma written on one wrist band and Ruby (her middle name) on the other wrist. 'I didn't know he did it till after,' says Ricky. Loading Emma, now 27, is secure in independent living style accommodation, with the Ricky Stuart Foundation having raised funds, via annual golf days at Royal Canberra and celebrity lunches in Sydney, to build two Respite Centres for autism affected children. With attendances of over 500 per function and the following of the Raiders increasing, Rickyland is growing in population. Some people count to ten before they blow up. The early Ricky couldn't get past one but with the Raiders leading the NRL and having two byes and only one opponent in the top eight over the next nine weeks, Ricky is now midrange on his Richter scale. Aged 58, he admits, 'I am mellowing. I'm not as aggressive as before. Having kids (and the No 1 team) mellows you.'
