Darren Lockyer opens up on Ezra Mam, Michael Maguire and the Broncos
Broncos legend Darren Lockyer has opened up on Ezra Mam’s controversial return, the mounting pressure on coach Michael Maguire, and the long-term future of Adam Reynolds.
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Brisbane playmaking legend Darren Lockyer has defended the club’s decision not to sack Ezra Mam and has backed the controversial pivot to spark the misfiring Broncos.
Lockyer, a Broncos board member, also leapt to the defence of coach Michael Maguire, insisting the veteran mentor has what it takes to deliver Brisbane’s first title since 2006.
Mam will make one of the most anticipated comebacks in recent times when he ends a 288-day NRL exile in Sunday’s clash against the Dragons at Suncorp Stadium.
Having served a nine-match suspension over his drug-driving offence, Mam is under pressure to repay the faith of the Broncos.
And Lockyer believes he will return a better player and person.
“The next chapter for Ezra is what happens between now and the rest of the season,” Lockyer said. “You will see results from his approach on and off the field.”
THE MAM FIGHTBACK
If anyone understands the pressures of wearing the Broncos No.6 jumper, it is Lockyer.
The most capped player in the club’s history with 355 games, Lockyer remains the last five-eighth to steer Brisbane to a premiership in 2006.
Mam almost emulated Lockyer when the livewire No.6 scored a hat-trick in the 2023 grand final, only for Penrith to break Brisbane’s hearts in the dying minutes of the decider at Homebush.
Mam hasn’t played NRL since last August and while Lockyer says it will take time for the 22-year-old to find his groove, he says the Indigenous ace can ignite the 5-5 Broncos.
“Like a lot of people, I am looking forward to seeing Ezra back in the No.6 jersey,” he said.
“But we have to be realistic and accept he is still getting his timing right.
“If he just gets a win for his team, that’s all you can ask.
“But we have to be realistic and accept he is still getting his timing right.
“If he can just do his job and get a win for his team, that’s all you can ask.
“His style of play will complement the Broncos.
“That has always been ‘Madge’s (coach Maguire’s) intention. Once Ezra was back playing and got his confidence back, that he would bring him back into the team to play six.”
Lockyer said Mam needed to keep it simple against the Dragons.
“First and foremost, he has to focus on getting his defence right and that will give him confidence and get him into the game and the rest will come,” he said.
“Don’t force it. Just play your natural game.”
SECOND CHANCE
The Broncos considered tearing up Mam’s $4 million contract after his head-on car crash with an Uber driver last October, which injured a young girl.
Maguire, just days into his new job at the Broncos, walked into a firestorm and has spent the past six months working on Mam’s development on and off the field.
Lockyer believes Mam is genuinely remorseful over the incident and understands the expectations of the Broncos under Maguire.
“Ezra is a young kid that made a big mistake,” Lockyer said.
“He is lucky it wasn’t worse than the outcome he got. Talent aside, it’s about rehabilitating the individual and he has done everything right since that moment.
“He realises the situation he put himself and the club in and the people that were injured.
“It has been a learning curve for Ezra and he is remorseful for it but he has got himself back in a position to wear the six jersey again.
“He wants to make the most of that opportunity for himself but also his club and for the fans.”
GRAND FINAL DEMONS
Of the 17-man Broncos team to face the Dragons on Sunday, 11 players, including Mam, are survivors of the gut-wrenching 2023 grand final.
Does the current Broncos squad harbour demons over the biggest collapse in NRL grand-final history?
Lockyer says the likes of Mam, Adam Reynolds, Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan must overcome the scar tissue.
“When you lose a grand final in circumstances like that, same as 2015 (extra-time loss to the Cowboys), there’s a lot of reflection on what we should have done here and there,” said Lockyer, a four-time premiership winner.
“Everything could have been completely different, but what’s done is done.
“Getting back to that situation is the goal, but you just have to play each week, one game at a time.
“For the Broncos right now, it’s a distant memory and they are a long way from where they need to be to be playing in a grand final.
“They need to play with a mentality against the Dragons of rolling the sleeves up for 80 minutes.”
THE COACH
Brisbane have sacked three coaches in six years – Wayne Bennett, Anthony Seibold and Kevin Walters. The club is craving cultural stability.
Now there are fresh reports of Maguire being offside with some Broncos players, but Lockyer is adamant ‘Madge’ has the skill set to deliver Brisbane’s seventh premiership.
“I do think Madge is the right guy for the job,” he said.
“He has come with experience and a disciplined mentality.
“He wants a real focus on defence and I think defensively they have improved.
“There’s been a couple of disappointments recently like the Penrith game. They need to get into the arm wrestle and be willing to stay in the wrestle until they win it.
“Defence wins big games because then you don’t have to chase points. While they have improved in defence, it hasn’t been good enough yet to be one of the top teams.
“The points will come if they are willing to get in the arm wrestle and stay in the arm wrestle for long periods of time.
UP AND ADAM
Skipper Adam Reynolds is currently off-contract, but is keen to play on in 2026. Reynolds is 34, the very age when Lockyer decided to announce his retirement from rugby league in 2011.
But the former Broncos skipper believes Reynolds is capable of marshalling Brisbane’s offence for another 12 months beyond his 35th birthday.
“It comes down to his body,” Lockyer said.
“If his body feels good then his mind will feel good.
“Those game-managing experienced halfbacks with a good kicking game are so hard to come by these days.
“For me, I just knew I was done. I wanted to finish the best I could, so I nominated the finish line and I went for it. Mentally, I was ready to go.
“Adam is not playing rep footy so that certainly helps him if he wants to play on.”
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