Michael Maguire confirms Ezra Mam could make shock Round 10 Broncos comeback

Broncos coach Michael Maguire revealed Ezra Mam’s fast-tracked return to Brisbane’s Round 10 starting side after serving a nine game ban hinges on one thing.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire has left the door ajar for exiled Ezra Mam to make an instant NRL comeback in a bid to add some spark to Brisbane’s premiership assault.

Breaking his silence on Mam’s prospects of an NRL recall, Maguire said the controversial five-eighth could be pitchforked straight into the big league and reprise his grand final combination with halfback Adam Reynolds.

The Broncos go into Thursday night’s blockbuster against the unbeaten Bulldogs under pressure to snap a two-match losing streak following disappointing defeats against the Roosters and Warriors.

In both defeats, Brisbane’s attack has spluttered and struggled for cohesion, to the point where Maguire moved Billy Walters to five-eighth and shifted Ben Hunt to hooker in last Saturday’s 20-18 golden-point loss to the Warriors.

Mam’s nine-game suspension ends on Sunday week, making him available for Brisbane’s round 10 clash against South Sydney following the drug-driving ordeal that saw the 22-year-old admitted to rehab.

Given his extended time out of the game, Mam was expected to make his return in the Hostplus Cup with feeder club Souths Logan as part of his penance following the biggest scandal of his career.

Coach Michael Maguire and Ezra Mam, Brisbane Broncos training, Red Hill. Picture: Liam Kidston

But Maguire has praised Mam’s effort at training and says he is working so hard the 2023 grand final pivot could be handed the No.6 jumper immediately to kickstart Brisbane’s inconsistent spine.

“I can’t be happier with Ezra,” Maguire said.

“He is very aware of what he went through and he wants to come back ready to go.”

Maguire said he wouldn’t rule out rewarding Mam with a swift NRL recall once his ban is lifted, especially if Hunt and Reynolds fail to get the Broncos’ attack firing over the next fortnight.

“It all depends on where we are at that stage,” he said.

“I will see how the team is going.

“If we are performing well it might change things, but Ezra has fallen into what we are doing here and it’s all about performance.

“He has been doing a fair bit of training, so his match fitness wouldn’t be too far away (from playing NRL).”

During his time in exile, Mam spent time working on a building site and Maguire revealed the 2024 Queensland Origin squad member has continued his off-field development.

“He is working outside of rugby league,” Maguire said.

“Ezra is doing a bit of a trade in the background and continually working on himself which is good to see.

“It all depends on where we are at as a team, but Ezra is doing a heap of extras and he’s in good shape.

“He is working on parts of his game.”

Hunt and Reynolds were outstanding in Brisbane’s 50-14 demolition of the Roosters in round one, but over the past month, the pair have yet to hit top gear as a scrumbase force.

Hunt, in particular, had a night to forget in Auckland, prompting Maguire to shift him to dummy-half duties late in the second half and inject Walters into second receiver in a desperate bid to put the Warriors away.

There was a fear Hunt’s off-season signing could have left Mam on the outer for an extended time if the Maroons utility fired in the halves with Reynolds.

That could still happen, but Maguire at least has a contingency safety net in Mam, whose potential return at five-eighth could see Hunt move to hooker full-time to give the Broncos a formidable starting spine.

Will Maguire move Ben Hunt to a full-time hooking role. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Broncos prop Pat Carrigan has been training alongside Mam at Red Hill and has no doubt the quick-stepping pivot could hit the ground running if chosen in a fortnight.

“It would be pretty special to see him back,” Carrigan said.

“He made a mistake and he owned it, there’s no sugarcoating it, but as a person and having the opportunity to grow with him since he came into the club at 17, I know what this club means to him.

“He wants to be a role model for young kids and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids.

“I know he would have been hurting, he has learnt some lessons, but I stand beside him and am really excited for him to come back and do his thing again.

“Hopefully he puts himself back in the fray and in a position to be selected again.

“’Ez’ has been training bloody hard here, so if he gets the opportunity to come back in when he does, I’m sure he will be ready.”