NRL 2024: Ezra Mam set to avoid being deregistered, could face massive suspension
Ezra Mam is set to avoid rugby league oblivion, with Broncos powerbrokers pushing for the troubled star to be given a second chance, as the NRL wait on the outcome of a Queensland police probe.
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Ezra Mam will not be kicked out of rugby league with the troubled Brisbane five-eighth set to avoid being deregistered by the NRL.
This masthead understands NRL bosses are unlikely to tear up Mam’s five-year, $4 million contract, with Broncos powerbrokers also set to push for the playmaker to be given a second chance.
Mam’s future in the NRL remains under a cloud following his role in the shocking car crash that has marred Brisbane’s off-season ahead of their return to training under new coach Michael Maguire on Monday.
The Maroons Origin hopeful failed a roadside drug test and Queensland police say Mam was driving unlicensed during the head-on collision with an Uber driver in Brisbane on October 18.
Mam has not been charged.
He has checked into rehab in the wake of the incident following discussions with his management and Broncos hierarchy including CEO Dave Donaghy.
The 21-year-old is expected to remain in a wellness facility for another fortnight, by which time the results of a second drug test could be known.
The Broncos, NRL and Queensland police have launched concurrent probes and there are fears Mam could be sidelined indefinitely by League Central, particularly as the crash involved a four-year-old girl, who was not seriously injured.
There is a view Mam could be facing a potential one-year ban, but it’s believed he won’t be kicked out of the sport indefinitely, with NRL boss Andrew Abdo and ARLC boss Peter V’landys prepared to give the Broncos pivot a chance for reform.
The NRL has the power to deregister players.
Young Dragons half Talatau Amone was hit with a two-year jail sentence and ordered to undertake 300 hours of community service after being charged over an incident in late 2022 involving a hammer.
Amone was subsequently black-listed by the NRL and missed the entire 2024 season for the Dragons.
Bulldogs duo Jayden Okunbor and Corey Harawira-Naera were deregistered by the NRL in 2020, while former Broncos prop Matt Lodge was forced to sit out two years after his infamous New York rampage in 2015.
While the Broncos and NRL chiefs are treating the Mam matter seriously, deregistration would be considered an extreme outcome for Brisbane’s 2022 rookie of the year.
Once he leaves rehab in the coming weeks, Mam could be ordered to front NRL CEO Abdo, as occurred with his Broncos teammate Kotoni Staggs following a drunken off-field incident that threatened his career in 2021.
Staggs has not reoffended since and Broncos hierarchy hope this will represent the ultimate wake-up call for Mam.
The NRL integrity unit will await the conclusion of the Queensland police probe, but Mam is facing an extended ban of up to 12 weeks, with the Broncos resigned to not having their No. 1 five-eighth for at least the opening two months of the season.
Donaghy and Maguire have not ruled out sacking Mam, but Brisbane are leaning towards a stay of execution given the grand-final pivot does not have a history of off-field problems.
Mam spoke to Maguire before entering rehab and the new Broncos coach is reluctant to tear up his contract, although the five-eighth could be forced to make his way back via the Queensland Cup.
“I’ve been in the game for a long time and seen many players go through many different situations,” Maguire said upon his arrival at the Broncos last week.
“You learn a lot of lessons throughout your life.
“I’m not downgrading the situation. It’s one we need to have a look at how he ended up getting to that situation.
“People will make mistakes but they’ve also got to own them. That’s the big thing.
“If Ezra owns where he’s at … his actions moving forward are very important.
“He’s getting some help. When he works through that, I’ll get some time with him and assess how everything’s going.”
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