Ezra Mam initially believed Manly fans were booing him for calling out racism, rather than anything to do with the perceived light punishment he received from the NRL for a drug driving incident, which left three people injured.
Mam was heckled almost every time he caught the ball at 4 Pines Park during Brisbane’s 34-6 loss to the Sea Eagles.
It was his second game back in the NRL – but his first outside of Brisbane – since he returned from a nine-match ban from the NRL.
Mam crashed his ute in Brisbane’s west last October, injured an Uber driver and his two passengers, including a young girl, and was later charged with drug driving and driving without a licence. He was fined $850 and had his licence suspended for nine months, before the NRL handed down their own ban.
There was backlash in Queensland and NRL circles at the time, including Queensland deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie labelling the penalty “disgraceful”.
Mam was called a “monkey” by Sydney Roosters player Spencer Leniu in Las Vegas last year, was booed by fans at away games, and thought Saturday was another example.
“It doesn’t really bother me – I’m just happy to be playing footy,” Mam said of the Manly booing.
“It’s not going to stop my performance. The only thing that will stop my performance is myself. If anything, that only motivates me more to prove people wrong.
Mam said he was accustomed to being jeered by fans who did not agree with him calling out Leniu’s behaviour.
“[Racism] has been in my life my whole life, it’s second nature to me.
“When you’re one to call something out, it comes back a bit harder. I’m not afraid to stand up for myself and my people, and people who look like me.
“I’ll keep doing that as long as I want, and if that means I get booed, I get booed.”
Ezra Mam on the attack against Manly.Credit: NRL Imagery
When asked about some of the heckling being directed at him over his driving offences – something he apologised for at the time – Mam said: “In regards to the off-field incident, I’ve done the punishment I was given, and if people don’t agree with it, they can take it up themselves [with authorities].
“I’ve dealt with those punishments, I’ve come back on to the footy field, and that’s my main goal now.”
Mam scored a try against the Sea Eagles in the 12th minute, reacted to the Manly crowd, and said the booing “motivated me to play hard”.
Sea Eagles legend Peter Peters told Sky Sports Radio on Sunday about Mam’s try reaction: “I think the booing of Ezra Mam showed the NRL got it wrong in the suspension for what he did. He’s got to be a little more humble. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea at the moment.”
Ezra Mam celebrates after scoring against Manly.Credit: NRL Imagery
The Broncos hit the road another five times this season, including trips to Sydney and Newcastle.
Mam praised Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds, who celebrates 300 games on Saturday, for standing by him during a tough few months as he prepared for his comeback.
“He’s looked after me through this tough little period I’ve gone through – he’s been a big mentor for me, and looked after me off the field as well.”
Reynolds was aware of the Mam treatment on Saturday night and said: “He’s done a lot of good work in the background. We all make mistakes, he’s owned it, people will be quick to remind him of what happened, but those same people haven’t seen the hard work he’s doing on himself behind the scenes.”
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