Jamal Shibasaki
{{Short description|Australian professional rugby league player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Jamal Shibasaki
|fullname =
|image =
|imagesize =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2005|06|07}}
|birth_place = Townsville, Queensland, Australia
|height = {{convert|185|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|105|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|SR}}
|club1 = North Qld Cowboys
|year1start = 2024
|year1end = present
|appearances1 = 1
|tries1 = 0
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 0
|retired =
|source = [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/jamal-shibasaki/summary.html Rugby League Project]
|updated = 2 June 2024
| module = {{infobox person
| embed = yes
| father =
| mother =
| spouse =
| education = Ignatius Park College
| alma_mater =
| relatives = Enemarki Shibasaki (brother)
Gehamat Shibasaki (brother)
}}
}}
Jamal Shibasaki (born 7 June 2005) is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|sr}}er for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Background
Born in Townsville, Queensland, Shibasaki is of Torres Strait Islander and Japanese descent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/08/09/the-destiny-that-led-to-gehamat-shibasakis-nrl-debut-for-the-brisbane-broncos/|title=The destiny that led to Gehamat Shibasaki's NRL debut for the Brisbane Broncos|date=8 August 2018|website=National Rugby League}} He is the younger brothers of Brisbane Broncos player Gehamat Shibasaki.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2024/02/15/get-to-know-our-trial-players|title=Get to know our young players ahead of Sunday's trial|date=15 February 2024|website=NQ Cowboys}}
He played his junior rugby league for Townsville Brothers and attended Ignatius Park College before being signed by the Brisbane Broncos.{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/sport/brisbane-broncos-pinch-son-of-a-gun-from-north-queensland-cowboys/news-story/0da12495da4e04ca3e83aa72f4da560c|title=Brisbane Broncos pinch son of a gun from North Queensland Cowboys|date=24 November 2021|website=Courier Mail}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/spoils-shared-in-junior-rugby-league-deciders/news-story/e9ce1f7a22701b482bc9dc7ca6869c3f|title=Spoils shared in junior rugby league deciders|date=17 September 2018|website=Courier Mail}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/local-sport/live-streams/ignatius-parks-jamal-shibasaki-draws-on-brother-ahead-of-positional-switch/news-story/ed7651ec2e5efb74e6fedca45f17d1e8|title=Ignatius Park's Jamal Shibasaki draws on brother ahead of positional switch|date=10 June 2021|website=Courier Mail}}
Playing career
=Early career=
In 2021, Shibasaki played for the Townsville Blackhawks in the under-16 Cyril Connell Challenge competition, scoring four tries in four games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2021/03/15/what-a-weapon---jamal-shibasaki/|title='What a weapon!' - Jamal Shibasaki|date=15 March 2021|website=QRL}} In 2022, he moved up to their under-18 Mal Meninga Cup side, starting at second-row in their Grand Final loss to the Souths Logan Magpies.{{Cite web|url=https://leagueunlimited.com/news/leagueunlimited-mm-cup-teams-2022-round-3/|title=QRL U18 Mal Meninga Cup - 2022 Round 3|date=8 March 2022|website=LeagueUnlimited}} In September 2022, Shibasaki signed with the North Queensland Cowboys.{{Cite web|url=https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/nrl/cowboys/i-wanted-to-do-it-with-him-new-cowboy-gehamat-shibasakis-heartwarming-reason-for-signing/news-story/f1540e386d8d159a9fa68e451244c23c|title=New Cowboy Gehamat Shibasaki's heartwarming reason for signing|date=18 November 2022|website=Townsville Bulletin}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2022/11/15/shibasaki-signs-for-2023/|title=Shibasaki signs for 2023|date=15 November 2022|website=NQ Cowboys}}
In 2023, he began the year captaining the Blackhawks' Mal Meninga Cup side, being named the competition's Player of the Year at the end of the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2023/09/16/auswide-bank-mal-meninga-cup-player-of-the-year-jamal-shibasaki/|title=Mal Meninga Cup Player of the Year Jamal Shibasaki|date=16 September 2023|website=QRL}}{{Cite web|url=https://leagueunlimited.com/news/38891-results-2023-qrl-u18-auswide-bank-mal-meninga-cup-preliminary-finals/|title=2023 QRL U18 Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup Preliminary Finals|date=15 April 2023|website=LeagueUnlimited}}
In May 2023, Shibasaki, aged just 17 years and 339 days, made his Queensland Cup debut for the Blackhawks in their 54–4 win over the PNG Hunters.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/qld-cup-2023/round-9/townsville-blackhawks-vs-papua-new-guinea-hunters/summary.html|title=Townsville Blackhawks 54 def. Papua New Guinea Hunters 4|date=12 May 2023|website=Rugby League Project}} In July 2023, he represented Queensland under-19, coming off the bench in their loss to New South Wales.{{Cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2023/07/03/queensland-under-19-team-named/|title=Queensland Under 19 team named|date=3 July 2023|website=QRL}} On 17 September 2023, he started at second-row in Townsville's under-21 Colts Grand Final win over the Brisbane Tigers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2023/09/15/nine-cowboys-named-for-sundays-u21s-grand-final/|title=Nine Cowboys named for Sunday's U21s Grand Final|date=15 September 2023|website=NQ Cowboys}}
=2024=
Shibasaki joined the Cowboys' NRL squad ahead of the 2024 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2023/10/24/cowboys-promote-seven-from-pathways-program-to-nrl-squad/|title=Cowboys promote seven from Pathways program to NRL squad for 2024|date=24 October 2023|website=NQ Cowboys}} He began the season playing for the Mackay Cutters in the Queensland Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2024/03/18/q-cup-stats-cowboys-combine-for-1188-running-metres/|title=Q-Cup stats: Cowboys combine for 1,188 running metres|date=18 March 2024|website=NQ Cowboys}}
In Round 13 of the 2024 NRL season, he made his NRL debut off the bench against the Sydney Roosters.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2024/05/28/cowboys-team-list-v-sydney-roosters-shibasaki-to-make-nrl-debut-/|title=Cowboys team list: Round 13 v Roosters|date=28 May 2024|website=NQ Cowboys}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.cowboys.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/north-queensland-cowboys/jamal-shibasaki/ North Queensland Cowboys profile]
{{North Queensland Cowboys squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shibasaki, Jamal}}
Category:Australian people of Japanese descent
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Mackay Cutters players
Category:North Queensland Cowboys players
Category:Rugby league players from Townsville
Category:Rugby league second-rows
Category:Sportspeople of Japanese descent
Category:Torres Strait Islanders