NewsBite

Ezra Mam cops nine week suspension for drug driving incident

Embattled Brisbane five-eighth Ezra Mam will miss at least the first two months of the 2025 season after learning his fate from the NRL following his guilty plea to drug driving.

Mam hit with breach notice by NRL

Broncos star Ezra Mam has been slapped with a nine-game suspension by the NRL following an off-season drug driving incident.

Mam will miss at least the opening two months of the 2025 NRL Premiership and is also facing a significant fine.

The Brisbane five-eighth was involved in a head-on car crash in October and was last week hit with an $850 fine and six-month licence suspension in court.

After deliberating, the NRL issued Mam with a breach notice on Monday night forecasting potential sanctions.

It can be revealed the NRL has proposed a nine-game ban for Mam, which will see him available for selection in Brisbane’s round 10 clash with South Sydney on May 9.

Mam will not be able to count the All-Stars fixture towards his ban despite being one of the game’s highest-profile Indigenous players.

Given he has never played in the pre-season game the NRL have already ruled that he will not be able to use that towards his nine-game suspension.

The NRL are still considering applications from Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr after they requested to have a game taken off their off-field suspensions and used for the All-Stars match.

Ezra Mam is set to cop a nine week ban. Picture: NRL Images
Ezra Mam is set to cop a nine week ban. Picture: NRL Images
Ezra Mam appeared at Brisbane Magistrates Court last week. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell
Ezra Mam appeared at Brisbane Magistrates Court last week. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Speaking after his hearing last week, Mam apologised, while vowing to change his actions in the future.

“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 NRL’s decision comes just weeks after new Broncos coach Michael Maguire ruled out sacking the young star over his discretion, revealing Mam has started working “very hard in the background now” to make amends.

Mam was expected to return to training in early January.

Originally published as Ezra Mam cops nine week suspension for drug driving incident

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-hits-brisbane-broncos-star-ezra-mam-with-breach-notice/news-story/fc9febcbd088780288f1985d798b5ec7