Live: Origin teams finalised as Mam returns from lengthy suspension

Good afternoon KB.

Scones are the pinnacle of any morning tea. If anything, it could be a dinner on its own. It is that good.

And I note your mention of F1, which some readers may know is a pet favourite of mine.

Oscar Piastri will start on pole at Imola tonight, and my friend and colleague Simon Smale will be live blogging the race.

For now, we are five minutes away from kick-off between the Broncos and Dragons.

St George Illawarra centre Valentine Holmes has joined Fox League ahead of the Dragons’ match against Brisbane at Lang Park.

The Dragons have three wins and six losses this season, but three of those defeats were by one point.

And five of their six losses have been by single digits.

Holmes said his side has not been good at the beginnings of matches.

Last week against the Warriors they were 14-0 down, before going on to lose 15-14.

“I think it comes down to our start,” Holmes says.

“The Warriors last week got a good jump on us … but I think the way we fight back in the second half is really good.

“These days, it’s about your start.

“You need to start well, and start fast … and hopefully we can do that today.”

We have heard from Billy Moore picking his Queensland side.

Now, Luke Lewis and John Gibbs have given their NSW side while broadcasting on ABC Sport.

1. 1.Dylan Edwards
2. 2.Brian To’o
3. 3.Stephen Crichton
4. 4.Latrell Mitchell
5. 5.Zac Lomax
6. 6.Mitchell Moses
7. 7.Nathan Cleary
8. 8.Mitch Barnett
9. 9.Reece Robson
10. 10.Payne Haas
11. 11.Liam Martin
12. 12.Angus Crichton
13. 13.Isaah Yeo
14. 14.Connor Watson
15. 15.Max King
16. 16.Hudson Young
17. 17.Spencer Leniu

The only thing better than State of Origin, is talking with your mates about who should, and should not, be in the teams.

Maroons legend Billy Moore has just said who he would pick for Queensland on ABC Sport.

Moore has called for a debutante in Beau Fermor, picked two backs on the bench, and has “X-factor” Felise Kaufusi off the bench.

1. 1.Kalyn Ponga
2. 2.Xavier Coates
3. 3.Valentine Holmes
4. 4.Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
5. 5.Murray Taulagi
6. 6.Cameron Munster
7. 7.Daly Cherry-Evans
8. 8.Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
9. 9.Harry Grant
10. 10.Pat Carrigan
11. 11.Jeremiah Nanai
12. 12.Beau Fermor
13. 13.Reuben Cotter
14. 14.Tom Dearden
15. 15.Selwyn Cobbo
16. 16.Moeaki Fotuaika
17. 17.Felise Kaufusi
18. 18.Kurt Capewell

G’day Old Timer.

Happy to keep you company this afternoon with a big day of rugby league.

I also anticipate Brisbane, Canberra and Souths being winners today, but the NRL in 2025 is hard to pick.

As for the beverage you mention — here is a little behind the scenes for you.

I cannot, and could not think of, doing a live blog for ABC Sport without a cup of tea.

About 15 minutes before kick-off the kettle is on, the tea bag remains in the cup for five minutes, and we have a perfect cuppa ready to go when the first whistle is blown.

There are no surprises this afternoon for the first match of the day.

The Brisbane Broncos are as advertised earlier in the week. Erza Mam replaces the injured Ben Hunt.

It is an almost similar story for the Dragons.

Blake Lawrie and Nathan Lawson come into the side.

Lawrie will (number 17) will start at prop, with Jack De Belin (number eight) coming off the bench.

— reporting by AAP

Brisbane coach Michael Maguire has no regrets about allowing Ezra Mam to salvage his career.

After serving a nine-match ban, the 22-year-old will play his first NRL game in 2025 on Sunday, seven months after a head-on collision with an Uber where he drove unlicensed and with drugs in his system.

The three occupants of the Uber were injured, including a young girl.

There were calls externally for Mam to have his contract torn up but the club resisted and allowed their star playmaker to redeem himself.

“When I first walked in, I looked at the scenario. I take people for who they are. I was fortunate to know Ezra from five or six years ago,” he said.

“I got to know the family and I know the person. Ezra to his credit has taken on board what he’s been through.

“He has grown as a man and what I have seen him do around the place, is the reason why I’m glad I kept him. He is really hungry to get out there and play with his teammates.

“Last week, he went back to (Souths Logan) and he was just excited about playing. He was excited about playing for the Broncos and the people he’s had plenty of cheers from.”

Maguire said the first day he arrived at the club Mam had to own his mistake. He also said he was determined to “have a look at how (Mam) ended up getting in that situation”.

Maguire discovered, when he investigated the culture at the club in 2024, Mam had been caught up in an environment where alcohol-fuelled partying was far too prevalent.

CEO David Donaghy alluded to it in October last year when he said the club had cultural challenges and its football program had lost its focus.

Mam checked into a rehabilitation facility and worked on changing his lifestyle and his behaviour. He worked on a building site and did other activities behind the scenes to rebuild his life.

Brisbane five-eighth Ezra Mam makes his return to the NRL following a lengthy lay-off.

Mam was suspended for nine matches after being involved in a head-on collision, while being unlicensed and having an illicit substance in his system.

Three people in the other car were injured in the collision.

Mam made his return last week in the Queensland Cup for Souths Logan.

A hamstring injury to Brisbane’s Ben Hunt in their loss last week to South Sydney made Mam’s selection easy for coach Michael Maguire.

State of Origin Game I in the men’s series is just 10 days away.

In recent years, NSW have announced their team on Sunday night, while Queensland wait until Monday morning.

So, will we know the NSW side tonight? Maybe.

The NSWRL has said what happens today will dictate whether coach Laurie Daley and the selectors will announce the team late tonight, or wait for the morning.

Usually the 4pm kick-off game would be the final of the round at this time of year, but Game II of the women’s Origin has forced Wests and South Sydney to kick-off at 6:15pm tonight.

I know, I know. Poor us for having footy on a Sunday night.

ABC Sport will keep you updated throughout the day as news breaks on NSW and Queensland.

These are the three matches on the menu this Sunday:

• 2pm — Brisbane Broncos vs St George Illawarra Dragons, Lang Park, Brisbane
• 4:05pm — Canberra Raiders vs Gold Coast Titans, Canberra Stadium, Canberra
• 6:15pm — Wests Tigers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs, Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney

Hello Australia.

Welcome to ABC Sport’s live blog coverage of the NRL.

There are three big matches to end round 11, while the pending announcement of the State of Origin squads for Queensland and New South Wales hangs over the league like the Sword of Damocles.

It is going to be a fascinating day of rugby league on and off the field.

Join the conversation in the comment section and let us know your thoughts on all things footy.