Broncos star Ezra Mam to make NRL return in Round 11 after serving nine-game ban

Ezra Mam’s NRL exile is over with coach Michael Maguire to rush the controversial five-eighth back for Brisbane’s must-win clash against the Dragons.

Ezra Mam has escaped suspension and is ready to answer an SOS (Save Our Season) call from the misfiring Broncos.

Mam’s NRL exile is over with the controversial five-eighth to be rushed back into Brisbane’s side for Sunday’s must-win clash against the Dragons.

This masthead understands Broncos coach Michael Maguire will reinstate Mam to the No.6 jumper in a desperate bid to kickstart Brisbane’s title campaign in the round 11 clash at Suncorp Stadium.

Maguire will name his preliminary 22-man squad on Tuesday afternoon and sources say Mam will be advised of his recall to Brisbane’s top squad at training on Tuesday morning.

The Broncos coach was sweating on the availability of Mam after he was placed on report for a high shot in his comeback game for feeder club Souths Logan on Sunday.

But the Queensland Rugby League match-review committee did not level any charge against Mam - clearing the path for him to be selected by the Broncos.

Having served a nine-match suspension imposed by the NRL for his drug-driving offence, Mam returned to action for the Magpies in the Hostplus Cup.

Maguire was a spectator at Davies Park and was impressed with Mam’s 44-minute cameo, which included a try and three try assists in Souths Logan’s 66-10 victory.

Ezra Mam will be named in Brisbane’s Round 11 team to face the Dragons.

Mam was initially expected to spend several weeks building match fitness in reserve grade but injuries to halves Ben Hunt and Jock Madden have decimated Brisbane’s scrumbase stocks.

Hunt is sidelined for up to six weeks after tearing his hamstring against Souths last Friday night, while Madden will miss three months after undergoing surgery on Monday for a pectoral tear.

That has fast-tracked the return of Mam to reprise his 2023 grand-final halves combination with skipper Adam Reynolds, who has overcome his own hip injury to face the Dragons.

Mam famously scored a hat-trick in the 2023 decider - he was four minutes away from winning the Clive Churchill Medal - and Reynolds insists the livewire pivot won’t let the Broncos down if picked.

“Ezra has been training well,” Reynolds said.

“I landed on my hip (against Souths) ... it’s a bit sore but I will get the body going again.”

Mam was not flawless in his comeback game, and the high shot raised questions over whether his timing was out after his nine-game suspension, but his attacking game warmed up nicely.

The fact that he was taken off the field four minutes into the second half after a 40-metre break suggests Maguire wanted Mam placed in cotton wool for his NRL resurrection.

Mam was roundly booed when vision of him in the dugout was shown on the big screen during the Magic Round but league fans are accepting the reality that he is about to return.

A week ago a fan vote in a News Corp poll was in favour of Mam not winning an instant recall to first grade after his ban ended.

But the most important vote that matters is that of Maguire - and the coach is backing Mam to blow out the cobwebs against the Red V.

Surging with a 4-1 record after five rounds, the Broncos have slumped to 5-5 on the eve of the Origin season and Maguire believes Mam will spark Brisbane’s attack.

Former Broncos skipper Corey Parker says Mam’s recall is a no-brainer.

“I would bring Ezra straight back in,” he said.

“I wouldn’t have even made him play in the Queensland Cup on the weekend, but I understand why they want to give him a week to get match fitness.

“Ezra is a special player and they are a better team when he is in there, so why not play him.”

Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs is adamant Mam has the support of Brisbane fans and would benefit from time in second-tier football with Souths Logan.

“He has taken it pretty deep that what he has done wrong he has done wrong. Obviously he is trying to push that to the side now,” Staggs said.

“Our fans love him. People do some stupid stuff when you are younger and you live and learn. I don’t think they will boo him, our fans anyway.

“They (Broncos fans) want to see him back as much as we want to see him back.

“He has the confidence in the team that he knows we have got his back.”

Originally published as Broncos star Ezra Mam to make NRL return in Round 11 after serving nine-game ban