Battered Blues in Blue Mountains
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ABC News
35 minutes ago
- ABC News
NSW Blues player Payne Haas praises Broncos teammate and Queensland rival Gehamat Shibasaki ahead of State of Origin III
Payne Haas could see the difference in Queensland State of Origin bolter Gehamat Shibasaki from the moment he arrived at Brisbane training this pre-season. 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. ABC Sport will have live blog coverage of the State of Origin series. But their path from Brisbane's U20s team in 2017 to Stadium Australia next Wednesday night could not be any more different. While Haas has been one of the NRL's best front-rower for the past five years at Brisbane, Shibisaki has been on rollercoaster ride to crack it in first grade. Like Haas, the centre debuted at the Broncos in 2018 but 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 time on a week-to-week contract arrangement with South Sydney during their injury crisis. Another a train-and-trial deal came at Brisbane this year, where Shibasaki was reunited with Haas and clearly a different man to the one who left. "He's way more dialled in," Haas said. "He took his training more seriously, the way 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 after 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. 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." AAP
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘I will hate him next Wednesday': Blues show Origin rookie Gehamat Shibasaki plenty of respect
Blues centre Stephen Crichton has downplayed the notion that his side will go after Gehamat Shibasaki next week when the Maroons centre makes his State of Origin debut with the series on the line. Shibasaki has earnt his spot on the back of three-straight try doubles for the Broncos, with Queensland coach Billy Slater opting to bring him in after he moved Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to fullback to replace the injured Kalyn Ponga. Slater could have easily brought Reece Walsh in to play fullback but has instead backed Shibasaki to get the job done against arguably the best centre in the world. The pair met earlier this year when Brisbane ended Canterbury's six-match winning streak to start the season, with Shibasaki scoring one of their six first-half tries when Crichton was trapped at marker in defence. The Bulldogs skipper has nothing but respect for a guy whose NRL career was at a crossroads last year, with the Blues to have a significant advantage in experience out wide with Latrell Mitchell up against Roosters rookie Robert Toia. 'Not really,' Crichton replied when asked if NSW would target the Origin debutant. 'I feel like there are two parts to the game – the physical side and the mental side. 'It's mental all the way up until game day for me as I try to get my role right at training before putting it out on the field. 'The physicality comes because it's Origin, it's game three and it's a decider as well. 'He's such a good player. I feel like he's been playing his best footy the past couple of weeks leading into his Origin selection. 'There is going to be a lot of talk around it, but I feel like the Origin arena brings out the best in everyone regardless of whether you haven't played a game because you're always going to turn up and play your best.' Shibasaki has scored more tries this season than he has in the rest of his NRL career combined, with the powerful centre no stranger to the Maroons jersey having worn it several times in the junior ranks. He played three matches for the Queensland under-20 team, while he also lined up alongside Zac Lomax in the centres for the Junior Kangaroos back in 2018. He has been the constant on the left edge for a Broncos team that has made several changes to the backline, but teammate Payne Haas will switch his respect for animosity when they square off next week. 'I'm super proud of him,' the Blues prop said. 'He came in (to the Broncos) on a train and trial (deal) and worked his backside off to get to where he is now. 'I'm really proud of him, but I will hate him next Wednesday.'
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Blues coy on exploiting clear advantage
Blues centre Stephen Crichton has downplayed the notion that his side will go after Gehamat Shibasaki next week when the Maroons centre makes his State of Origin debut with the series on the line. Shibasaki has earnt his spot on the back of three-straight try doubles for the Broncos, with Queensland coach Billy Slater opting to bring him in after he moved Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to fullback to replace the injured Kalyn Ponga. Slater could have easily brought Reece Walsh in to play fullback but has instead backed Shibasaki to get the job done against arguably the best centre in the world. The pair met earlier this year when Brisbane ended Canterbury's six-match winning streak to start the season, with Shibasaki scoring one of their six first-half tries when Crichton was trapped at marker in defence. The Bulldogs skipper has nothing but respect for a guy whose NRL career was at a crossroads last year, with the Blues to have a significant advantage in experience out wide with Latrell Mitchell up against Roosters rookie Robert Toia. 'Not really,' Crichton replied when asked if NSW would target the Origin debutant. 'I feel like there are two parts to the game – the physical side and the mental side. 'It's mental all the way up until game day for me as I try to get my role right at training before putting it out on the field. 'The physicality comes because it's Origin, it's game three and it's a decider as well. 'He's such a good player. I feel like he's been playing his best footy the past couple of weeks leading into his Origin selection. 'There is going to be a lot of talk around it, but I feel like the Origin arena brings out the best in everyone regardless of whether you haven't played a game because you're always going to turn up and play your best.' Gehamat Shibasaki has worn the Maroons jersey a number of times in junior footy. NRL Photos Credit: The Courier-Mail Shibasaki has scored more tries this season than he has in the rest of his NRL career combined, with the powerful centre no stranger to the Maroons jersey having worn it several times in the junior ranks. He played three matches for the Queensland under-20 team, while he also lined up alongside Zac Lomax in the centres for the Junior Kangaroos back in 2018. He has been the constant on the left edge for a Broncos team that has made several changes to the backline, but teammate Payne Haas will switch his respect for animosity when they square off next week. 'I'm super proud of him,' the Blues prop said. 'He came in (to the Broncos) on a train and trial (deal) and worked his backside off to get to where he is now. 'I'm really proud of him, but I will hate him next Wednesday.'
