NRL: Ezra Mam and Reece Walsh ready to lead Brisbane attack against the Dragons

Move over Kevvie and Alfie, Ezra Mam and Reece Walsh are the dynamic duo set to spearhead Brisbane’s next premiership dynasty.

Broncos players Ezra Mam, Reece Walsh and Adam Reynolds on the beach at Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast where the Broncos will play two trial matches in 2023. Picture Lachie Millard

First there was Alfie and Kevvie.

Now the Broncos are ready to unleash another dynamic duo with young guns Ezra Mam and Reece Walsh keen to build an attacking strike force that can spearhead Brisbane’s next premiership dynasty.

Electric five-eighth Mam and razor-sharp fullback Walsh will be key weapons for the Broncos in Saturday night’s clash against the Dragons at Suncorp Stadium.

The 20-year-old Mam has been sensational in the opening fortnight, while Walsh, just six months older, was outstanding in his Broncos debut last week, carving up the Cowboys to inspire a 28-16 derby win at Suncorp.

Rarely in Broncos history has the club possessed two attacking whiz kids whose careers have intersected in much the same way as Allan Langer’s union with Kevin Walters during Brisbane’s golden age.

The Langer-Walters alliance helped deliver Brisbane’s maiden premiership in 1992, spearheading the tidal wave of dominance that swept the Broncos to six titles in a 14-year period.

(L-R) Ezra Mam and Reece Walsh are forging a terrific partnership. Picture Lachie Millard

With skipper Adam Reynolds entering the twilight of his career, Mam and Walsh may yet become Brisbane’s long-term halves and the dynamic duo have already forged a lethal on-field combination.

“Ezra is awesome,” said Walsh, who combined superbly with Mam in Brisbane’s defeat of the Cowboys last week.

“If you watch ‘Ez’ closely, every time there is a shift, he is pushing up around the ball, so if I can take something out of his book, hopefully I can be a better player.

“Every time Ez touches the ball, he is just smart and we want to combine as much as we can this season.

“If we do that well, we are a chance of winning a football game.”

Mam revealed he often watches footage on YouTube of Cowboys legend Matt Bowen, the former fullback magician who struck up a formidable partnership with playmaking legend Johnathan Thurston at North Queensland.

Now Mam, who has outpointed Penrith ace Jarome Luai and Cowboys rival Tom Dearden in the opening fortnight, is keen to work his magic with Walsh.

Ezra Mam has started the 2023 season in great form. Picture: Getty Images

“They (Thurston and Bowen) were my idols growing up, I watched a lot of their games when they played,” Mam said.

“A bit of a routine I do is watching footage of ‘Mango’ (Bowen) before games. Being an idol of mine, I loved the way he played, so I watch a bit of video of him before the game and that always gives me extra confidence.

“It definitely puts me in the mood, I like to take a bit from him and bring it to my game.

“Me and ‘Walshy’ can form that connection over the years at the Broncos and hopefully we can build that sort of combination.”

Reece Walsh produced one of the Broncos' best ever club debuts. Picture: NRL Images.

Mam was blown away by Walsh’s blistering speed which enabled him to set up three tries as he ghosted past Cowboys defenders.

“That’s just Reece Walsh,” he said.

“He will just pull a rabbit out of the hat when he wants to.

“Give him the ball and he will play, he just makes everyone’s job easier.

“We just give him space and he will do something special.”

Walters, now coach of the Broncos, sees shades of Langer in Mam’s instinctive brilliance.

“Ezra has some trick shots in his game but it’s about pulling the right trick out at the right time,” Walters said.

“That’s something ‘Alfie’ (Langer) was good at and all the good halves are.

“You have a bag of tricks there, which trick to pull out at what time in the game.

“Ezra and Walshy are still learning that part of the game and ‘Reyno’ (Reynolds) is helping them in that regard.

“Reece and Ezra are certainly special talents - they are an exciting mix for us.”

Originally published as NRL: Ezra Mam and Reece Walsh ready to lead Brisbane attack against the Dragons