NRL 2022: Ryan James emerges as Brisbane Broncos’ leading voice at training

Brisbane signed premiership stars Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell for their experience and leadership abilities but it’s another recruit that has become Brisbane’s dominant voice.

Broncos recruit Ryan James has become one of Brisbane’s dominant voices on the training paddock this year and it’s a trait which is being noticed by the club’s young stars.

The Broncos have returned to a near full strength squad this week after several players were forced into isolation after testing positive to Covid at the start of the year.

It meant the squad was able to run a “13 v 13” drill and the 158-game NRL veteran, James, was taking charge as the dominant voice on the park to up the ante at training.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now >

James is part of coach Kevin Walters’ plan to bring more experience to the Broncos this year as he looks to turn the fortunes around at Red Hill.

Young gun Ezra Mam said the former Titan had become a big influence on his performance at training.

“It’s good having Darky (James) here with us being a senior player,” Mam said.

“He’s another voice to listen to.

“Obviously when I’m a bit older, I want to be that sort of leader among the team.

Ryan James is making his voice heard at training. Picture: Josh Woning

“When he’s talking like that, I’m taking tips off him as well.”

Star halfback Adam Reynolds and premiership winner Kurt Capewell have also added a wealth of experience to the club since arriving at Red Hill at the end of last year.

Mam, who is eyeing off the No. 6 jersey this year, said he had turned to Reynolds for advice this pre-season in a bid to improve his game.

“(Reynolds) good to have alongside here at the club,” he said.

“He’s done everything as a player and I’m happy to be learning off him.

“I’m learning off all the halves. Each one has their own point of view but I’ve been chewing off his (Reynolds) ear.”

The teen sensation burst onto the scene last year after scoring a hat-trick on debut for the Souths Logan Magpies in the Intrust Super Cup.

He went on to become the 2021 Intrust Super Cup Rookie of the Year and extend his Broncos contract until the 2024 season.

The electric playmaker said Walters had given him a licence to play his own brand of football as he looks to make his NRL debut this year.

“He just wants me to play how I play,” he said.

“I like how he’s sort of let me be free and play like that.

“I’ve also got to realise that I have to play for the team as well and not be an individual player.

“He’s been pretty good for me so I’m just going to be myself.”

Young Broncos bolter pushing for No. 6 jersey

- Travis Meyn

Broncos young gun Ezra Mam wants to be like Matt Bowen, Johnathan Thurston and Karmichael Hunt rolled into one and reckons he has what it takes to solve Brisbane’s No. 6 dilemma.

Mam has rocketed into contention to partner Rabbitohs recruit Adam Reynolds at Brisbane’s scrumbase this year after being thrust into the Broncos’ top-30 squad.

The 18-year-old Goodna product set the Intrust Super Cup alight last year, scoring 13 tries in 11 appearances for Souths-Logan to be crowned rookie of the year and secure a three-year contract with the Broncos.

While the likes of Tyson Gamble and Albert Kelly are frontrunners for the No. 6 jersey, Mam has injected himself into the mix and is shaping up to be a long-term proposition for the Broncos.

A freakish talent with speed and footwork, Mam grew up idolising Queensland Origin stars Bowen, Thurston and Hunt, who he played with at the Magpies last year.

Now he is hoping to emulate his heroes on the NRL stage by debuting for Brisbane in 2022.

Ezra Mam gives the Broncos a speedy option in the halves. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“Matty Bowen, Johnathan Thurston and Karmichael Hunt - those were the sorts of players I liked,” Mam said.

“They were electrifying, really nippy and could do something out of nothing. I looked up to them.

“I suppose I have a game like all three of them in different ways. I’ve tried to take something from each of their books. I’ve tried to model my game on them.

“I played with (Hunt) at Souths which was an experience for me. We were getting set up for a shift in the first game and ‘K’ was talking to me but it went in one ear and out the other.

“I was just staring at him and froze. He started yelling at me ‘Ez, Ez’ so I had to snap out of it.”

Born in Sydney to parents of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, Mam moved to Brisbane before his first birthday and hasn’t left since.

He is a graduate of Ambrose Treacy College at Indooroopilly and grew up playing for the Goodna Eagles before shifting to Souths-Acacia Ridge to test himself in the Brisbane competition.

Mam has been in the Broncos’ development system since he was 12 and signed his first contract at 15.

“I’ve been with the Broncos for so long,” he said.

“I’ve been training with them since I was 12 and contracted since 15 so it means a lot to be part of the main squad now.

“I was a Broncos and Cowboys fan growing up. I was in Brisbane but I also loved Bowen and Thurston.

“The main goal this year is to make my NRL debut. I need to get better as a player and work on my basic skills.

“If I focus on those little things then I might get a chance and then I have to put my best foot forward.”

Mam has put himself in the frame as the Broncos’ starting five-eight. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Mam admits he didn’t have the best season in the Mal Meninga Cup last year, but a shift up in class took his game to a new level.

He made his Intrust Super Cup debut against the Capras in Rockhampton after being an eleventh-hour call-up to replace Broncos star Anthony Milford and didn’t look back.

“I didn’t have the best season in the Mal Meninga Cup, my form was starting to wear off, then I played in the under-21s and picked up a bit,” he said.

“Milf got called into the Broncos line-up for the next week and it would have been a short turnaround so I got told the night before at 10pm that I was playing. I was just about to fall asleep.

“I thought I had done something wrong because the coaches wanted to talk to me, but they told me I’d be making my debut.

“I couldn’t sleep until 3am. I was stressing out because I wasn’t sure how I’d go, but I scored a hat-trick.”

Mam has relished training alongside a gun NRL halfback in Reynolds and the rest of Brisbane’s top squad.

He is expected to feature in next month’s trial games and could push for a Round 1 jersey if he performs for coach Kevin Walters.

“Kevvie has spoken to me about stuff I can improve on,” Mam said.

“He’s asked me how I like to play the game and what my style is.

“He is an icon of the Broncos so to learn from guys like him and Alfie (Allan Langer) has been great.”

FROM ORIGIN TO RESERVE GRADE: BRONCO’S NRL FIGHT

Broncos prop Tom Flegler has vowed to clean up his on-field behaviour as he faces the prospect of starting the season in reserve grade after playing State of Origin last year.

Flegler will miss the opening three rounds of Brisbane’s 2022 NRL premiership campaign after copping a lengthy suspension late last season.

In a roller coaster year, Flegler was picked to make his Origin debut for Queensland in the Game Three dead-rubber following Jai Arrow’s Covid breach scratching.

He performed admirably for the Maroons in the face-saving win and brought confidence from his Origin debut back to the Red Hill, playing strongly for the Broncos in the back end of the season.

But Flegler copped a total of six games worth of suspensions last year, with a four-match ban for a high tackle on Cronulla’s Jack Williams carrying over into 2022.

Tom Flegler made his Origin debut for Queensland last year. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Flegler will watch Brisbane’s first three games from the sideline and must then prove to coach Kevin Walters he is worthy of an NRL call-up.

The Broncos have good depth in their middle forwards this year with Payne Haas a guaranteed starter, Pat Carrigan returning from a knee injury, Kobe Hetherington on the rise and Corey Jensen (Cowboys) and Ryan James (Raiders) joining the club.

If the Broncos start the season well then it could be difficult for Flegler to force his way into the NRL team immediately.

Flegler, 22, said he had to address his discipline or face more time suspended in 2022.

“I had a pretty average start to last year then I got lucky with Origin and had a good back end of the year,” he said.

“Unfortunately I missed a few games due to suspension, which I need to work on and fix up a bit. I need to stay on the field a bit more.

Flegler will miss the first three games of the season. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“Unfortunately, I’ll miss the first few rounds of this year again but I should be ready to go come round four. You can’t really play too well sitting on the sidelines.

“I’ve been working with a few of our defence coaches. I just need to tackle a bit lower.

“With the new rules (high contact) they’ve been a lot harsher. They’re not going to change that so I need to adjust to the rules and be better in that area.”

Flegler admitted there was plenty of competition for spots in Brisbane’s middle forwards this year.

“It will be intense, it’s healthy competition,” he said.

“Whoever gets the starting positions would have earned it.

“I’m sure the rest of the boys will be training just as hard to either get a spot in the top 13 or 17.”

Flegler was on light duties at training. Picture: Liam Kidston.

At his best, Flegler is in Brisbane’s best 17.

He has a strong physical presence and intimidatory factor needed to thrive in the front row.

With 56 NRL games next to his name, Flegler is no longer a rookie and could be an integral part of Brisbane’s success in 2022.

And his Origin experience has made him realise he can mix it with the best forwards in the game.

“It gave me a lot of confidence,” he said.

“Coming out of that I played a few better games which brought my season up a bit.

“I needed that coming into this year. It really helped me.

“I’d love to play Origin again this year. To start off, my priority is to get back to playing consistent NRL footy and try not to get suspended.

“If I can be more consistent the rest will come with it.”

Returning from a recent Covid infection, Flegler was on restricted duties at Broncos training on Thursday after sustaining a corked groin in a collision with Haas.

“I had a little cork at training, Payne Haas landed on my groin, but it’s all good,” he said.

“I’m just doing a bit of rehab running but I’ll be back into it.”