Broncos coach Michael Maguire challenges Ezra Mam to fight for his spot
Broncos coach Michael Maguire has challenged Ezra Mam to fight his way into the NRL, declaring the underfire star won’t just ‘walk back’ into the Brisbane No.6 jumper.
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Broncos coach Michael Maguire has challenged Ezra Mam to fight his way into the NRL after declaring the underfire star won’t just “walk back” into the Brisbane No.6 jumper.
Maguire has broken his silence on the reasons why Mam was overlooked for a Broncos recall for Friday night’s clash against South Sydney at Accor Stadium.
Mam’s nine-match suspension for his drug-driving ordeal ended on Sunday and leading Broncos players had called for Maguire to reinstate the grand-final pivot immediately.
But Maguire said the 22-year-old had to earn his stripes again, starting this Sunday when Mam begins his climb to redemption for feeder club Souths Logan in the Hostplus Cup.
“We have standards at this club and Ezra knows what I expect,” Maguire said.
“I sat down with Ezra and he totally understood my decision.
“To be honest, I don’t think he just expected to walk back into the team.
“He has seen how everyone else has fought to get their spot and it’s on him now.
“You have to be playing to perform and then performance gives you the ability to play at the highest level and that’s what the competition is demanding at the moment.
“I have always been big on performance allowing you to get an opportunity. All the boys have been performing.
“I looked at the weekend’s performance (their 32-8 loss to Penrith) and it wasn’t our best effort, but everyone has earnt the opportunity off the hard work they’ve done.
“Ezra will go back and play Q Cup and now he gets an opportunity to impress.”
‘Magpie Mam’ is set to team up with another former Broncos five-eighth, Anthony Milford, in Souths Logan’s halves for the clash against Western Clydesdales at Davies Park.
Mam’s availability amplifies pressure on Brisbane’s starting halves Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds, whose alliance has yet to hit top gear in the Broncos’ patchy 5-4 start to the season.
Mam famously scored a hat-trick in the 2023 grand final – he was four minutes away from winning the Clive Churchill Medal – and there is a view the Broncos desperately need his instinctive brilliance to spark their attack.
But Maguire said he also had a duty of care to Mam, saying while the Indigenous ace has trained well for the past four months, he risked being exposed in the NRL.
“He learnt some big lessons but the thing we have to respect is the NRL is the highest level,” Maguire said.
“I couldn’t pick Ezra just thinking everything will happen and he will just hit the ground running in the NRL.
“Nothing beats playing a game of NRL. Ezra hasn’t played NRL for months, so he needs to start getting back to playing some football before he gets to the higher level.
“The good thing is Ezra coming back pushes everyone internally. I’m happy with ‘Hunty’ and ‘Reyno’ but it’s healthy in any organisation to have competition because it drives you to a higher level.”
“Ezra has paid the price and now he has his chance to start afresh.”
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