'True character': Demoted Bronco Gehamat Shibasaki seals Battle of Brisbane

He had the No.17 on his back and was only on the field because Grant Anderson had limped off injured — but demoted State of Origin bolter Gehamat Shibasaki swooped on a kick and scored to seal victory for the Broncos in the Battle of Brisbane on Friday night.

Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam threw a shocker of a pass just before the hour mark to invite the Dolphins back into the contest, with Jake Averillo pouncing on the ball and racing away to score as the Redcliffe-based team closed the deficit to 16-12.

But any hope of a rare Dolphins Battle of Brisbane win was snuffed out in the 73rd minute at Suncorp Stadium when Shibasaki cleaned up a Reece Walsh bomb and crashed over to score.

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Jamayne Isaako and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow allowed the Walsh high ball to bounce and Shibasaki plucked the ball and crashed over.

Kotoni Staggs added more streamers to the Broncos' Battle of Brisbane party when he went on a tear from inside his team's half in the 80th minute.

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The explosive Broncos centre charged away to score as the reigning NRL premiers chalked up a 26-12 win.

Michael Maguire dropped Shibasaki to the bench for last Friday night's clash with the Storm in Melbourne and kept him there for the seventh edition of the Battle of Brisbane.

He only found himself on the paddock because Anderson had suffered a knee injury, cruelled in the 23rd minute by a Selwyn Cobbo tackle gone wrong.

Asked about Shibasaki's latest comeback of sorts, Maguire was visibly chuffed.

"He's another one that sort of showed true character in having to go back to go forward," Maguire said.

"Obviously, it's a shame for GA [Grant Anderson] there with his knee. Hopefully he's OK.

"But to have someone like Gem there come out and fill in — he's gone back and worked hard at his game ... and he'll be better for that, too."

Shibasaki was only on a train-and-trial deal when he returned to the Broncos at the start of the 2025 pre-season, but he quickly earned a promotion into the club's top 30.

He then earned a sensational call-up for Billy Slater's Queensland Maroons team and tasted State of Origin glory in a decider.

But his career took another dip when he was busted under the influence of alcohol at training. Maguire stuck the boot in, dropping him for Brisbane's final-round clash with Melbourne.

He fought his way back into the team and bagged a double as the Broncos beat the Storm in the grand final to snap a 19-year premiership drought.

Then came another setback when Maguire benched him last week, dropping Shibasaki to the pine after back-to-back losses.

"It was quite a ride for him last year ... with the way he went through things," Maguire said.

"Being able to understand how to do that over and over is what we all work through, and I see that he's gonna continue to get better."

The Broncos will go in search of three consecutive wins in a clash with the Titans on the Gold Coast next Saturday night.

Shibasaki will all but certainly return to the starting side against the Titans with the injured Anderson sidelined.