Gehamat Shibasaki thought his NRL career was over before being given an unexpected lifeline by Brisbane.
Instead of holding down a regular job and playing Queensland Cup, he now has a development list contract and is the starting left centre for the high-flying Broncos.
The 26-year-old journeyman, known as "Gem", played 18 Cup games for Townsville Blackhawks last year after lining up in just six NRL matches for South Sydney, North Queensland and Newcastle in the previous four seasons.
After joining the Rabbitohs on a week-to-week contract last year mid-season and finishing with the Blackhawks at the end of 2024, Shibasaki linked with Wynnum-Manly for this year and was preparing to supplement his second-tier contract with work in youth development.
He secured a train-and-trial deal with the Broncos, but thought his NRL ship had sailed.
"That's how it felt for me. It felt like that was pretty much it for me," Shibasaki said.
"When I did get that feeling of being around the boys every day I just felt like I wanted to give it another crack. I put my head down and worked hard.
"I set little goals, and a lot of big things happened off the back of it. I am really proud of that too.
"I had nothing on (at the end) of last year."
Shibasaki made his NRL debut for the Broncos in 2018 and said he was in the right environment to get the best out of himself under new coach Michael Maguire.
"It was just a train-and-trial for pre-season at the start. I got flogged," he grinned.
"My body wasn't ready for pre-season. I hadn't been around this professional scene in a while. I just knew that if I got my body right pre-Christmas everything else would fall into place.
"I just kept chipping away and buying into what Madge (Maguire) had to say. I worked really hard and it all paid off."
After shining in the pre-season trials and again in the 50-14 win over Sydney Roosters in round one, Shibasaki could yet secure a full-time top 30 deal.
When he was younger the proud Torres Strait Islander said he always worried about the future, but not anymore.
"If I chip away (a top-30 deal) might come. It might not. I'll just keep doing what I have been doing," Shibasaki said.
"That's the end goal, but I really want to focus on the now and week-by-week and training-by-training.
"I'm totally grateful for the path I went through last year. Straight out of school I went straight into the top squad, and working last year was the first time I've ever had a job.
"Coming back to training with the boys and then going back to work, I feel like I'm grateful now."
In Townsville he worked with Indigenous and non-Indigenous children, and was set to transfer in the role to Brisbane
"With the community up in Townsville, we're heavily Indigenous up there, so a lot of kids love their footy as well,'' Shibasaki said.
"I wanted to help some of the young kids find their way and learn some lessons from me with their preparations or anything to do with footy.
"That was a motivator. I like seeing the kids develop and have their crack too. Obviously (my story) is probably a good example. It's pretty motivating for me as well."
