Gehamat Shibasaki Sets Sights on State of Origin Debut with Queensland Maroons

They call him "Gem," and Gehamat Shibasaki's journey from rugby league limbo to Queensland debut is the ultimate diamond in the rough story.

After missing out on an NRL contract during the preseason, the 27-year-old centre has gone from zero to hero in Brisbane.

Shibasaki, who has 12 tries in 15 Broncos games, will become the first player on a development-list contract to play Origin football.

This week, Maroons coach Billy Slater said Shibasaki had "an inspirational story" to tell, and the joy and emotion with which he spoke in camp on Tuesday were obvious. 

The phone call from Slater informing him that he would play in the Origin showdown in Sydney next week was a dream come true.

Now he wants to take advantage of the chance and guarantee that his first match as a Maroon is not a one-off.

"I didn't have Billy's phone number saved, so I answered it.  "It was a good conversation that I had hoped for as a child," he remarked.

"I'm trying to take it all in and focus on each day.  My family is overjoyed, and there have been plenty of happy tears. 

"I'll take this experience and hope it leads to further opportunities to play for Queensland.

"I'm ready.  I'm prepared for this.  Madge [Broncos coach Michael Maguire] told me that if you prepare well, you will be ready, and I will be prepared as well.

"I've done the hard work."

Shibasaki, a three-time Queensland Under 20s representative, competed for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup last year.

By accident, a conversation with fellow Broncos and Maroons teammate Pat Carrigan motivated him to set higher goals.

"I was pretty happy with working and playing footy at the Blackhawks," he informed me. 

"The pressure of the NRL, I didn't want to go through it again, then Patty came to town to play the Cowboys, and that reignited the fire.

 "It was basically a 'wake up to yourself' kind of situation, where Patty offered to come back for another try and 'come and live with me if you want'.

"Now he's asking me for gas money.

"I gave Wynnum a call, they gave me a chance, and it's gone from there."

Shibasaki still had no certainties and had to earn his opportunity, progressing from a train-and-trial deal with the Broncos to the development list contract he presently has. 

"I'm on a development contract, so I've got a lot to prove.  "I'm just playing my best football," he remarked.

"I wasn't under contract six months ago.  I was just scraping through.  Fighting my way through the preseason and attempting to get fit.

"I just kept training hard, knowing that football would arrive after Christmas.

"It is completely paid off.  We have some fantastic players in the background at the Broncos, so we're all competing for a slot.

"I'm just focusing on my role."