Broncos great Corey Parker reveals why sacking Ezra Mam would be detrimental to both club and player

Brisbane great Corey Parker has urged Broncos bosses to stick by Ezra Mam in the wake of his off-field incident, revealing why sacking the young playmaker would be detrimental to both club and player.

• Broncos boss on Mam incident

Brisbane great Corey Parker has urged Broncos bosses to stick by Ezra Mam and believes sacking the young five-eighth is the easy option for both the club and the player.

Mam is facing an uncertain future at the Broncos after the 21-year old allegedly tested positive to a roadside drug test following a head-on car accident with an Uber driver on Friday in Brisbane while moving house.

Police also allege Mam was driving unlicensed at the time of the accident. No charges have been laid and Queensland Police are awaiting the results of a second test. Mam and two passengers from the Uber vehicle were taken to hospital after the accident but cleared of any serious injury.

The latest off-field incident has seen some fans and pundits call for the Broncos to take heavy action if Mam is formally charged in relation to the allegations.

While not commenting on specifics around the incident, Parker, who played almost 350 games for the Broncos, believes tearing up Mam’s contract is not the best option.

“He’ll be dealt with by the law, based on what the authorities determine happened. From a Broncos point of view, I would be throwing a great deal of support behind Ezra from a mental health point of view but an education in understanding what it means to be a Bronco,” Parker said.

Ezra Mam’s future at the Broncos is uncertain after the off-field incident. Picture: Scott Davis/NRL Imagery.

“Drawing a line in the sand and sacking him, doesn’t check the individual anything.

“All of a sudden another club can buy Ezra. Has Ezra actually learned a lesson? Has he become a better person for it? I don’t think so. Has anyone at the Broncos gained anything by going down that path?

“If a player is under my roof at the Broncos, I want to be doing everything I can to make sure he’s not just a good player but a better person. If every club just threw out a young player because they stuffed up, are we doing fulfilling our duty as a game when it comes to making young men better people.

“It’s a chance for the Broncos to offer that.”

It’s the second time in only a matter of weeks that Mam has been the subject of an NRL integrity unit investigation.

Last month, the NRL received a complaint involving Mam and star teammate Reece Walsh, alleging that a phone had been damaged during an interaction with a fan in Bali.

That investigation is also yet to be resolved.

Corey Parker is urging the Broncos to stick by Mam. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Parker believes Mam deserves a chance to make amends to both the club and the community.

“I know Ezra, he’s going to be remorseful and highly embarrassed on the back of what has unfolded,” Parker said.

“If I was the club, I’d want him to take whatever accountability that comes with it, whatever that may look like.

“He can grow and learn from this. He’s got a great presence in the community, in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities as well.

“Yes, he’s a superstar player but we forget he is a young man who will make mistakes. If the club wipes its hands, they aren’t fulfilling its responsibility. So I would support him, while making sure he understands what has happened is not acceptable.”

Brisbane failed to secure a top-eight spot in 2024 after a grand final appearance just 12 months ago, where Mam starred for the Broncos is a losing side. The lack of on-field success along with a string of other off-field incidents have led to suggestions the playing group harbours a rock star mentality.

But Parker believes the arrival of new coach Michael Maguire, who will officially clock in for his first day at Red Hill on Wednesday, will trigger a cultural re-set at the Broncos.

“The timing of Madge turning up - yes he has to deal with this - is actually a chance to send a clear message from day one,” Parker said.

“Every player will be watching to see how Madge handles this.

“But Madge will know he can’t just turn up and be a drill sergeant, he needs to gain the players trust, especially if they are going to want to play for you.

“Players want to know that you support and care for them and Madge will be that guy.

“But something has gone amiss with the culture of the place, they played in a grand final last year and couldn’t make the finals this year.

“Whether it’s the painted finger nails, sunglasses at night time, the swagger … if that’s the norm under the current players it what it is.

“I expect those standards to change.”

Originally published as Broncos great Corey Parker reveals why sacking Ezra Mam would be detrimental to both club and player