By Dan Walsh
Broncos star Ezra Mam has entered a professional rehabilitation facility after being involved in a head-on collision while allegedly driving unlicensed last Friday.
Mam, who was taken to hospital late last week after colliding with an Uber carrying three people, allegedly returned a positive result to a roadside drug test, with police awaiting the results of a second test using blood samples.
Mam has not been charged by the police. On Monday evening his management confirmed that the 21-year-old has sought professional help as a result of the incident.
“Ezra is extremely remorseful,” a statement released by Mam’s management read.
“He is concerned, first and foremost, for the other parties involved and understands the enormity of the current situation.
“He acknowledges he’s facing some personal challenges and, following these recent events, has taken a proactive step by seeking immediate professional treatment.
“We will continue to support him throughout this process and will not make any further comments at this time.”
Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy earlier on Monday said Mam had been apologetic in discussions with the club and did not guarantee the young star’s future when asked on radio station 4BC if his Broncos contract was in jeopardy.
Mam signed a rich five-year-deal worth around $4 million in February following his breakout 2023 campaign and virtuoso grand final performance.
Mam’s extension ties him to the Broncos until the end of 2029, but Donaghy conceded the five-eighth has “lost his way” among several other off-field incidents involving Brisbane’s best and brightest.
″We haven’t had a discussion internally in depth, but we don’t have the full facts,” Donaghy said when asked if sacking Mam had been considered.
Ezra Mam was drug-tested and taken to hospital after a head-on crash in Bardon on Friday.Credit: Getty Images
“It would be remiss of me to jump too far ahead.
“There is obviously a process to go through with police and the matters referred to, but when the full facts are known and the emotion gets taken out of it, we have to work through the process really methodically with firstly the NRL integrity unit, who we informed straight away.
“Ezra is a young man, he is 21. They do make mistakes but in this industry you have to grow up quickly. It’s the price of entry.
“He is a genuinely decent young man who appears to have lost his way of late, so that can be the traps of this industry.
“Speaking to Ezra, he has apologised for putting the club in this position and certainly his concern is for the others involved in this accident.”
Incoming coach Michael Maguire officially takes charge of the Broncos on Wednesday and has been kept informed of developments around Mam.
Last week’s accident caps a rollercoaster year for the five-eighth, who was called a “monkey” by Sydney Roosters prop Spencer Leniu during the opening round of the season in Las Vegas.
He and Reece Walsh were also investigated by the NRL’s integrity unit last month after an incident in Bali where a fan complained that a phone was damaged, and later replaced, during an interaction with the two Broncos players.