The Sydney-born, Queensland-raised Broncos five-eighth made his NRL debut in 2022 but his career highlight was snaring a hat-trick in Brisbane’s doomed 2023 grand final against Penrith.

Since that moment Mam – who turned 21 on January 31, 2024 – has endured more off-field issues than on-field highlights.

This is the timeline of the rise and fall of Ezra Alam Eric Tom Amber-Mam >>>

Grand final heroics, heartbreak

If not for Nathan Cleary’s late heroics, Mam would own a special place in grand final folklore.

The five-eighth bagged a hat-trick in the 2023 decider, all but seeing Brisbane over the line … before the Panthers’ late charge.

Mam looked set to claim the Clive Churchill Medal until Penrith maestro Cleary orchestrated an epic late surge.

The treble immediately sparked talks of a contract upgrade for Mam, while teammate Adam Reynolds heaped praise on the young gun.

“It was special,” he said of the hat-trick.

“We’ve loved him from the moment he’s come in and started playing footy.

“Without him, we’re getting beaten by a larger margin. He was certainly our best player.

“He took the opportunity and played footy to his strengths. He ran the ball and split them open.

“I’m filthy we couldn’t get the job done for him.”

Brisbane’s last premiership five-eighth Darren Lockyer said Mam’s efforts in a losing team were remarkable.

“To score a hat-trick in a grand final and lose … when was the last time that happened?” he said.

“ … He probably had the (man of the match) medal around his neck until the last five minutes.”

THAT end of year awards suit

Mam plays rugby league with the instinctive brilliance that has made many Indigenous players some of the game’s greatest.

He also marches to the beat of his own drum, having python snakes as pets and rocking his own dress and fashion sense, which regularly includes painted nails.

When he fronted for Brisbane’s presentation ball in 2023, a few days after the grand final loss, Mam was the only person at the venue wearing shorts.

He was singled out by Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy and modelled his unique look to the applause of 700 people.

On February 3 Mam celebrated his 21st birthday with a party where he sported a $2300 Gucci shirt.

Las Vegas storm

It was the story that stole the show in Las Vegas.

In March 2024 the NRL’s historic US double-header involved a racism saga with Mam at the centre.

Roosters prop Spencer Leniu received an eight-match suspension from the NRL judiciary after calling the Bronco a “monkey” during the Las Vegas game.

Mam made an official on-field complaint about the slur which was followed by an ugly hotel corridor confrontation between Roosters and Broncos players later that night.

He returned to Australia to a barrage of controversy as the incident divided opinions and clubs, with Mam declining Leniu’s offer to apologise face-to-face.

He received influential support from figures like South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell but was also attacked by online trolls and Indigenous icon Anthony Mundine.

Mam was shielded from the media for six weeks after Vegas before admitting the incident took a toll but he had no regrets about how he handled it.

“I just stuck to what my beliefs are and how I was brought up as a strong cultural man,” Mam said at the time.

“It was definitely a huge thing for other players to come out on behalf of me and reach out to me. It lifted me up and lifted my spirits up.”

Origin camp

In June Mam rocketed into the frame for a Queensland Origin debut on the back of his NRL grand final heroics after being invited to an exclusive Maroons camp.

Mam was one of 20 players picked for the first game, but ultimately missed the final 17.

Bali with Reece Walsh

The Broncos crashed from beaten grand finalists to 12th, culminating in the departure of coach Kevin Walters.

An ankle injury which required surgery brought a premature end to Mam’s 2024 season with a month to go.

After recovering from surgery, Mam travelled to Bali for a holiday with Walsh which wasn’t without incident.

The NRL Integrity Unit received a complaint from a disgruntled parent after their son’s phone was damaged at a Bali nightclub. Mam paid for a new phone for the third party.

Days later, Mam was photographed in a Bali hospital holding two drinks as Walsh lay on a bed being tended to for a graze on his back sustained in a surfing accident.

Mam returned from Bali in time for Brisbane’s presentation ceremony. This time he wore pants, but removed the sleeves from his shirt and jacket.

A week later he was being removed from the wreckage of a Ford Ranger utility with his career on the line.

Crash and charges

On October 18 Mam was involved in a head-on collision with an Uber.

A mother and a four-year-old girl were passengers in the Uber, with the daughter sustaining a fractured hip in the crash which occurred about 5.20pm.

The accident happened on Simpsons Rd at Bardon in Brisbane’s inner west.

By November Mam was charged with one count each of driving while relevant drug is present in blood and driving a motor vehicle without a licence.

Police said Mam was driving a Ford Ranger utility when his ute struck a Toyota Camry, travelling in the opposite direction.

Mam failed a roadside drug test when spoken to by police.

In and out of rehab

In the days after the crash Mam checked into rehab, with Broncos lock Patrick Carrigan detailing his teammate’s path ahead.

“He’s pretty disappointed, can’t comment too much on things but, yeah, next steps for himself is to make amends and sort himself out with some rehab stuff and move forward as a club and for him individually,” Carrigan told Channel 7.

“I know the quality human he is, he’s a great young kid, got a heart of gold and obviously he’s just made a mistake.

“We have some work to do as a club and so does he and he acknowledges that.”

Mam entered the rehabilitation centre three days after the crash and spent four weeks there at an estimated cost of more than $100,000.

Defence lawyer Bettina Webb told the court in December that Mam had gone to rehab at The Banyans Healthcare and was undertaking 12 months of counselling.

“Certainly it is the case that this court will impose a punishment, but his punishments go far greater and beyond this courtroom than it otherwise would for any other person,” she said.

Building site work

On November 29 Broncos coach Michael Maguire put Mam on notice, saying the embattled five-eighth needed a “reality check” away from the “football bubble” after being ordered to work on a building site.

Maguire rubbished suggestions Brisbane had gone soft on the playmaker, insisting the star pivot had to earn the right to represent the Broncos again.

‘Ezra the Chippie’ did some labouring work on Brisbane’s southside for a week.

“It’s a reality check and something we thought was important for Ezra to do,” Maguire said.

“It’s not something I’m going to talk about at length, but yes, he’s on the tools out there in the real world, taking time away from the football bubble.”

Fronting court

Mam promised “to be a better person” in December after pleading guilty to two charges relating to the crash.

Mam told police at the scene he knew his license was suspended and was moving house.

He was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital where his blood was taken and he tested positive to cocaine.

In sentencing, Magistrate Mark Nolan said Mam knew what he did was wrong and declared his behaviour as “stupid”.

“On this particular occasion you shouldn’t have been driving because of the fact you didn’t have a license,” Mr Nolan said.

Mr Nolan took into account Mam’s “very good” references, limited traffic history and extra-curial punishment when sentencing him.

Mam was disqualified from driving for six months and fined $850.

No conviction was recorded.

The Uber driver Marcel Van Den Camp has said he felt “the punishment doesn’t fit the crime.”

“Absolutely disgusting. The punishment doesn’t fit the crime. There’s not talk of compensation for his victims,” Mr Van Den Camp told 9News.

Another victim, who did not reveal their identity, told 9News she was in “shock.”

“To be honest I am in shock. I cried instantly, I cried,” she said.

The woman told 9News that Mam called the family but had not visited them in person.

“He said if he could take it all back, he would,” she said.

Redland woman Judy Lindsay said the penalties for Mam should have been more stringent to serve as a stronger deterrent and reflect the seriousness of his actions.

“This sentence for Ezra Mam is too lenient and shows we need harsher sentences to stop the culture of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol,” she said.

Ms Lindsay’s daughter Hayley was 20 when she died in a crash at Alexandra Hills in 2009.

What’s next?

Speaking publicly for the first time since being charged, Mam offered an apology as he left the Brisbane Magistrates Court.

“To all the people involved in this accident, I’m truly sorry,” Mam said.

“This incident isn’t a reflection of who I want to be or what is expected of me as a role model.

“And, to the NRL, the Broncos, my teammates, the fans, and my family – I am sorry, and I promise to be a better person and representative of the club and the game that I love.”

The Broncos ruled out sacking the troubled young star.

Coach Maguire revealed he had already had several discussions with the 21-year-old and that he was already working “very hard in the background now” to make amends.

Mam has not been back to pre-season training since the incident, but is expected to join his teammates when they return from their Christmas break.

In the meantime, Mam will continue to train twice a day at the Broncos’ Red Hill facility, in between the labouring work he has undertaken in the off-season.