Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Maligned Broncos star Ezra Mam will make his long-awaited comeback to rugby league, however he’ll be forced to bide his time and regain some trust in the Queensland Cup before returning to the NRL.
Mam’s nine-game suspension following drug-driving charges last year came to an end once the curtain drew on Magic Round, and Brisbane skipper Adam Reynolds confirmed the 22-year-old would return through the Souths Logan Magpies.
Should he line up at five-eighth, he will be partnered with either rising Broncos prodigy Coby Black or former grand finalist Anthony Milford, in a move Reynolds believes will be in his best interest.
Ezra Mam will return to rugby league via the Queensland Cup.Credit: Getty
“I think any player who has spent a long time out of the game wants to get their timing back, they want to go through the simple things and make sure they do that right. It would probably be wrong of us to just stick him out there and hope he could do the job straight away,” Reynolds said.
“The NRL is pretty tough, and it’s demanding. He’s excited to get back and work on himself and his game, and I’m sure it won’t be long before we see him back in the NRL.
“He’s worked extremely hard through the whole preseason, and he’s in a good space. He obviously wants to work at his game and get back to playing NRL, and I have no doubt he will.
“He’s been in a good mind space for the last couple of weeks, I’ve been super-impressed. It’s quite easy to sit there and feel sorry for yourself, but he’s done a lot of great things in the background.”
Ahead of this week’s clash against South Sydney, Reynolds denied there was any temptation to rush Mam back into the fray – in light of the Broncos’ horror 32-8 Magic Round defeat to the Penrith Panthers – insisting they were not in “panic stations”.
When he does inevitably make his return, however, there will be a selection conundrum for coach Michael Maguire – in 2025 and beyond.
Current No.6 Ben Hunt said in the preseason he and Maguire had discussed moving him to hooker when Mam returned. That would come at the expense of either Billy Walters or Cory Paix, and further limit opportunities for rake Blake Mozer to force his way into the top grade.
Adam Reynolds is determined to play on for the Broncos in 2026.Credit: Getty Images
And the logjam for positions will only intensify next year if Reynolds secures a contract extension at Red Hill, as he confirmed his desire to play on in 2026.
When asked if he was concerned his retention could trigger the loss of other players – Kotoni Staggs, Selwyn Cobbo and Kobe Hetherington the most high-profile unsigned players beyond this year – the 34-year-old dismissed the suggestion.
“I’m pretty confident everyone can stay at the club. I feel like the club’s in a great position to achieve some success and, obviously, I want to be part of that, and want the younger boys to be part of that,” Reynolds said.
“I don’t think me staying forces anyone out – if it does, that’s not what I mean to do. I want to be part of this club, and part of it moving forward. I’m happy with how my game is going, albeit last week was a bit of a hiccup, but I still feel like I have a lot to give.
“That will sort itself out in the background, I don’t need to take any focus away from what’s important right now.”
Mam will likely endure a trial by fire when he does don the Broncos’ colours again, particularly after vision emerged of the Suncorp Stadium crowd booing him during Magic Round.
There was a public sentiment at the time of his suspension that his punishment was too lenient, after being dealt a six-month driving disqualification and $850 fine in court, despite his involvement in the car crash, in which a woman and her child were injured.
But teammate Pat Carrigan believes he is well-placed to make amends.
“He made a mistake and owned it. As a person, and having the opportunity to grow with him since he came into the club at 17, I know what this club means to him and his community, and being a role model to young kids and young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids,” Carrigan said.
“I know he would have been hurting and learnt a lot of lessons, and I stand beside him and am really excited for him to come and do his thing again.”
