Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire says Ezra Mam won’t be sacked despite police charges

Ezra Mam is set to be handed a second chance in the NRL, despite being charged by Queensland police over the crash that led to him being admitted into rehab.

Brisbane coach Michael Maguire has declared Ezra Mam will not be sacked as the Broncos back the embattled five-eighth to resurrect his NRL career.

Mam has been formally charged by Queensland police over his head-on car crash last month but Maguire says the incident will not prompt the Broncos to tear up his five-year, $4 million contract.

The development will come as a relief to Mam, who was facing termination at the Broncos and possible deregistration by the NRL.

Ezra Mam was formally charged this week. Picture David Clark

But this masthead understands the Broncos grand-final playmaker will not be kicked out of the code for a specified period by the NRL in a sign Mam will get a second chance.

The 21-year-old, who is yet to enter a plea in the matter, faces a court appearance on December 16 over two charges, including alleged drug driving, and he could face sanctions from the Broncos and the NRL totalling more than $50,000.

Mam will also face a possible match suspension of two to three months from the NRL integrity unit, but regardless of any heavy legal or footballing sanctions, Maguire says the Broncos pivot’s career is not over.

Asked if he has played his last Broncos game, Maguire told 4BC: “No, he hasn’t.

“We are working through things and I am working through with the organisation around the whole situation.

“We need to make sure we are slow about our decisions because we have to see everything for what it is.

“It’s a big incident and it’s not taken lightly, but Ezra is working on himself and making sure he is going through his process.

“We will need to connect with everyone who has been involved in that accident.”

Broncos coach Michael Maguire will stand by Mam. Picture: Nigel Hallett

It is understood Mam’s month-long stint in rehab is coming to an end, with the young gun expected to check out early next week, having sought professional help following the incident.

The Broncos and the NRL fraternity were plunged into shock last month when footage emerged of Mam veering onto the wrong side of the road and colliding head-on with an Uber driver.

He subsequently failed a roadside drug test and Broncos bosses weighed up the prospect of tearing up his multimillion-dollar contract.

But Maguire is standing by Mam, convinced the Ipswich product can be rehabilitated as the Broncos coach vowed to inject a new culture of standards and performance at Red Hill.

“Culture makes great organisations so we have to all take ownership for what’s going on,” he said.

“Moving forward we will be steady and slow about our decision but we need to make sure as an organisation we take the incident and make sure we grow from that.

“That’s the last thing we want to be around, is something like that.

“We have to go through the process, the charges have come out and Ezra is working on himself.

“It then goes to the NRL and they and the Broncos will deal with the situation.

“It will be what it will be, but we have to change where we have been as a club and use this moment in time to improve and build the culture on what we want it to be.”

Mam is not expected to return to Broncos training until the New Year and may not be seen in Brisbane colours until May next season.

The Queensland Origin hopeful checked into rehab in the wake of the road accident and says the traumatic incident is a wake-up call as he vowed to be a better role model following one of the toughest periods of his life.

“I understand the seriousness of the situation,” Mam said in an exclusive interview with this masthead.

“I understand the importance in myself standing up to take responsibility for my actions.

“I will co-operate with the legal process to come.

“I also understand my responsibilities as a role model in the community and I’m prepared to work hard to live up to those expectations going forward.”

Originally published as Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire says Ezra Mam won’t be sacked despite police charges