Ezra Mam tests positive at roadside drug test following car accident
New Broncos coach Michael Maguire has vowed to launch a crackdown on player conduct at the club, and one of his first tasks will be a crisis meeting with five-eighth Ezra Mam, who was hospitalised after a road accident in Brisbane on Friday night.
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Ezra Mam’s $4 million contract with the Broncos is in jeopardy after the Brisbane star tested positive to a roadside drug test following a head-on car crash where he was driving unlicensed.
New Broncos coach Michael Maguire has vowed to launch a crackdown on player conduct as Brisbane bosses come to terms with the latest off-field scandal to rock the NRL’s $80 million glamour club.
Maguire officially moves to Queensland on Wednesday and one of his first tasks will be a crisis meeting with Mam, who was hospitalised after a road accident in Brisbane on Friday night.
The NRL integrity unit has begun an investigation after being notified by Broncos chiefs of the incident, which occurred just hours before Australia’s Test match against Tonga at Suncorp Stadium.
Queensland Police ordered a routine roadside drug test – to which Mam tested positive – after the Broncos playmaker collided head-on with an Uber driver while moving house.
Police are now waiting for the subsequent results of a second test to determine if Mam will be formally charged.
The test for alcohol was negative. Police confirmed he was also driving without a licence.
“The man was subject to a Roadside Drug Test where he allegedly returned a positive result,” a police statement read.
“He was detained for further testing requiring bloods to be taken at hospital.
Following this the sample is sent for analysis. This testing can take a number of weeks. The testing is conducted independently of the Queensland Police Service (QPS). The QPS cannot comment further while we await results.
“It will be alleged the 21-year-old man was unlicensed at the time of the incident.
“Investigations are continuing. No one has been charged in relation to this incident at this stage.”
It is the second off-field drama to engulf Mam, who was involved in a separate incident last month when the 21-year-old paid to replace a damaged phone after clashing with a fan while holidaying in Bali with teammate Reece Walsh.
Now Mam is in hot water again following a fresh traffic incident that has sparked internal concerns at the Broncos over the playmaker’s welfare.
This time 12 months ago, Mam was the hottest property in rugby league after he scored a hat-trick of tries in Brisbane’s 26-24 grand-final loss to Penrith.
That performance prompted the Broncos to sign Mam to a lucrative five-year extension in February, but just seven months later, the Ipswich product is fighting for his future at Red Hill.
While sacking Mam is a last-resort option, Broncos hierarchy can consider a range of measures, including heavy fines, game suspensions, counselling and education courses.
Maguire was reluctant to comment on the latest Mam saga given he is subject to a police probe, but said he would not tolerate poor behaviour at Red Hill as he looks to rebuild Brisbane as a premiership force.
“I found out about the (Mam) incident late (on Friday night),” Maguire said.
“I don’t want to comment on Ezra because we have to work through what’s gone on and get an understanding of the situation.
“In any organisation, that (good conduct) is part of what builds culture.”
The Broncos are under pressure to address player behaviour after a series of off-field dramas.
Brisbane are one of the worst behaved teams in the league – the club has been embroiled in more than 15 incidents over the past five years, including the brawling Broncos scandal in February.
Skipper Adam Reynolds and deputy Pat Carrigan were forced to apologise after being fined by the NRL for a drunken wrestle on the eve of the 2024 premiership kick-off.
Two years ago, backline star Selwyn Cobbo was banned from driving for six months for traffic offences, while the NRL is still investigating the Bali phone incident involving Mam and Walsh.
Maguire said the club’s image is critical in their quest to break a 19-year premiership drought.
“We have to make sure that how we want to build the club is that everyone is involved in taking ownership – right across the club,” he said.
“The off-field stuff is a massive part of it. The game is only a small part of what makes the club what it is, but everything that goes on around that plays a big part in your performance.
“That’s something I will be definitely working towards.”
Mam was driving in Brisbane’s western suburbs, where he recently purchased a new property, when he had a head-on collision with an Uber driver.
There were two passengers in the Uber vehicle, including an adult and a child, both of whom were taken to hospital for tests and cleared of serious injury.
Mam suffered a blow to his head, but was not seriously injured.
An NRL spokesman confirmed they are aware of the Mam car crash and are investigating.
NRL players Braydon Trindall and Josh Addo-Carr tested positive to drugs during roadside tests earlier this year.
Trindall was fined and disqualified from driving for three months when he faced court in May, while Addo-Carr accepted his $682 fine and a three-month suspension from driving in September.
Mam missed the latter stages of the NRL season with an ankle injury and was the subject of an integrity unit investigation only last month after an incident in Bali, where he was holidaying with Walsh.
A concerned parent contacted the integrity unit after a phone was damaged. It is understood the phone was replaced but the integrity unit was duty-bound to look into the matter given that a complaint was made.
The Broncos have the power to terminate Mam’s contract, but that would be an extreme measure considering this is the first major indiscretion for Brisbane’s 2022 rookie of the year.
The highly-talented five-eighth is a key part of Maguire’s plans next season, with the Broncos coach addressing suggestions Brisbane’s players have a rock star mentality.
“I’m not going to judge anyone,” he said.
“Perceptions are built, but what we get to build now is where we want to take the club and how we want to shape the club.
“It’s about making sure that the environment that we’re operating in, which the players create themselves, is at a high standard.
“How you’re turning up is very important. That’s part of being a professional rugby league player at this level.”
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