Brisbane Broncos star Ezra Mam faces an uncertain path back to first-grade football following his guilty plea to drug driving and unlicensed driving charges at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.
The 21-year-old five-eighth was fined $850 and had his licence disqualified for six months. Since then, he has been training in isolation at the Broncos’ Red Hill headquarters while awaiting the NRL Integrity Unit’s final determination on potential sanctions.
Read: Signs of Hope Amid Pre-season Concerns: Maguire’s Vision Takes Shape for the Brisbane Broncos
Court ruling and public reaction
The 18 October crash in Bardon, which involved an Uber carrying a woman and her four-year-old daughter, has drawn widespread criticism over the perceived leniency of the court’s punishment. NRL commentator Mark Levy suggested a season-long suspension, criticising the court’s penalty as insufficient. Redland woman Judy Lindsay, who lost her daughter in a 2009 crash, called for stricter penalties to deter similar behaviour.
Mam expressed remorse outside court, saying, “To all the people involved in this accident, I’m truly sorry.”
“This incident isn’t a reflection of who I want to be or what is expected of me as a role model.”
Broncos’ response to the incident
Broncos coach Michael Maguire revealed he has had several discussions with Mam, who has been working unpaid at a Brisbane building site after completing a four-week rehabilitation program at The Banyans Healthcare.
“I’ve had a number of conversations with him, and Ezra’s working through the process,” Maguire told Channel 9. “I think he’s learned a lot from this moment in time.”
“He’s a young man that’s made a mistake, and he’s working hard to make sure that he moves forward now in the right path.”
The Broncos have ruled out contract termination but have moved to shore up their playmaking stocks, signing veteran Queensland Origin star Ben Hunt on a two-year deal. Hunt, who commenced training with the club on Sunday, is expected to partner Adam Reynolds in the halves at the start of the 2025 season.
Read: Ben Hunt Returns to Red Hill as Broncos Eye Title Glory
Ezra Mam, future and redemption
Mam’s immediate playing future hinges on the NRL Integrity Unit’s investigation. He is expected to rejoin his teammates when they return from their Christmas break in January. In the meantime, he continues his twice-daily training sessions at Red Hill.
The incident has reignited debates on accountability in professional sport. As the Broncos prepare to wrap up their pre-season training this week, the timing of Mam’s return to the field remains uncertain, leaving both the player and club in a holding pattern heading into the new year.
Published 18-December-2024
