Shibasaki

[Wizardman]

Who on Earth thought Shibasaki would have been the Broncos starting centre for the first eight weeks of the comp? He may have been fortunate enough to get a spot in the centres through injury but he has since well an truly earnt that spot.
He has always been a bloke that has never cut the mustard at first grade level prior to this year. Credit to him and Madge though, he has really put it together and been a late bloomer. Im not saying he is the best centre in the land, but he is the most improved player for mine in the NRL this year. His best asset is that he has been very solid all year.

 

[MRN]

Who on Earth thought Shibasaki would have been the Broncos starting centre for the first eight weeks of the comp? He may have been fortunate enough to get a spot in the centres through injury but he has since well an truly earnt that spot.
He has always been a bloke that has never cut the mustard at first grade level prior to this year. Credit to him and Madge though, he has really put it together and been a late bloomer. Im not saying he is the best centre in the land, but he is the most improved player for mine in the NRL this year. His best asset is that he has been very solid all year.

His start wasn't though injury. Madges first choice pairing was Staggs and Shibisaki. Staggs was injured in the second trial where he paired Shiba and Mariner got the 'through injury' gig as he was the one playing on Staggs' side. Mariner played on the wing in the trials. Even the first trial staggs didn't play with a centre pairing on Shiba and Hoeter. That game Shiba played on Staggs' side but has been the other side since.

I always thought his first 13 game stint with the Broncos was very good and I was disappointed when we lost him back then. Love seeing him in this kind of form back with us because I believed he had this potential.
My mate is a knights fan and I remember saying to him that Shiba should be a good signing for them. Can't remember much from him after he left us until he returned so I guess it's always been just that, potential, the unrealised kind. Until recent form. Hopefully this is just the beginning.

 

[Wizardman]

His start wasn't though injury. Madges first choice pairing was Staggs and Shibisaki. Staggs was injured in the second trial where he paired Shiba and Mariner got the 'through injury' gig as he was the one playing on Staggs' side. Mariner played on the wing in the trials. Even the first trial staggs didn't play with a centre pairing on Shiba and Hoeter. That game Shiba played on Staggs' side but has been the other side since.

I always thought his first 13 game stint with the Broncos was very good and I was disappointed when we lost him back then. Love seeing him in this kind of form back with us because I believed he had this potential.
My mate is a knights fan and I remember saying to him that Shiba should be a good signing for them. Can't remember much from him after he left us until he returned so I guess it's always been just that, potential, the unrealised kind. Until recent form. Hopefully this is just the beginning.

I agree with your point about Shiba being first choice as I do remember Madge being quoted on that.

I remember him through his many stints at other clubs as being a weak link. He was always a fill-in type player and did not seem to be convincing in my opinion. This year, his best asset is he has been very solid on both sides of the ball. At NRL level in the centres, that is actually sufficient enough to get a start. It is a position where a fair chunk of players have weaknesses to expose. Shiba is not an elite centre, but he does do a lot of things well and with consistency.

 

[Fangs]

They call it the Madge effect.

 

[Apey]

He'll always be Shitasaki to me.

 

[Cactus]

I always thought a Shibasaki was a Japanese cooking implement.