The Queensland legend does not agree with Michael Maguire or Kevin Walters on the matter.
Cooper Cronk has gone the opposite way to Kevin Walters and questioned Michael Maguire’s decision to bring Ezra Mam straight back into the fold at the Broncos as Maroons coach Billy Slater has pinpointed some worrying signs for the club. Last week, former Broncos coach Walters was left dumbfounded to why Mam didn’t come back into the team to stop the Broncos losing streak after starting the season so well.
Despite being available after serving his nine-game suspension from the NRL, Maguire backed Ben Hunt to remain at No.6 against the Rabbitohs. This took Walters by surprise. “He’s been training…all reports from the Broncos, this is from an external source, he has been carving up the NRL team. They have lost three of their last four the Broncos. I would think at a pretty pointy end to their season of which way this will go. And he has elected not to play him,” Walters said on Triple M Radio.
“It just doesn’t make sense to me. He has paid a price for everything he did. He has owned it. So why would he not be playing…I’ve coached Ezra for three years, he doesn’t need protecting.”
And a Latrell Mitchell masterclass for the Rabbitohs on the weekend saw the Broncos fall to their fourth loss in five games. After the game Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston called out the Broncos players for their body language after Mitchell’s divisive try. And the pressure is piling on Maguire with injuries taking their toll.
Hunt hobbled off injured and is set to miss around six weeks due to injury. And after getting through QLD Cup on the weekend, Maguire named Mam to take Hunt’s position at No.6. Whether Hunt’s injury accelerated Mam’s return to the side could be revealed later on, but Maguire feels the young star is ready to make a comeback at Suncorp Stadium against the Dragons.
However, Queensland and Storm legend Cronk is of a different view. Speaking on Wednesday, Cronk suggested he wouldn’t have Mam in his 17 and feels he shouldn’t be parachuted back into the side after his off-field drama.
“I take a different look on this. I understand what Ezra did, I understand he paid his time. If Ben Hunt was still fit, he wouldn’t be in my side. I can understand why he has been named. I still feel like there is a bit of work Ezra Mam needs to do. He can play football, there is no doubt about that he can be the spark that gives the Broncos back there mojo football wise,” Cronk said on SEN Radio to Matt White.
“But from a spirit and cultural point of view, I feel like there are a few things Ezra has to do before earning the trust and respect back. What Madge does in terms of his time and straight back into the side…I sort of think think he plays reserve grade a big longer.”
Billy Slater calls out Brisbane Broncos
The Broncos have now seen them capitulate in losses to the Warriors, Roosters, Panthers and last week against the Rabbitohs with the players coming under pressure for their commitment. Maguire was meant to come in and bring a hard edge to the side, but last week Maroons legend Thurston questioned if Maguire had improved the side from last year.
And Maroons coach Slater agreed their were still worrying signs embedded in the playing group, which saw them finish outside the top eight last year and sit 10th in 2025 after 10 rounds. The Broncos lost in golden point to the Warriors, were hammered in the second half by the Roosters and didn’t score a point in the final 40 minutes against the Rabbitohs during their comeback.
And the legendary fullback believes their second-half efforts must be a concern for Maguire. “You always look back at history, results and form, and the second halves for the Broncos are the real concern,” he said on Channel 9’s The Billy Slater Podcast.
“We all know the brilliance that the Broncos have and can play with, but the last three weeks in their second halves, they have lost 52-8. How they’re coming out of the half-time chat and how they’re coming out for the second half is certainly not to the standard they are playing the first half with. They haven’t scored a try in the second half for the last couple of weeks, so there’s some real concern there for the Broncos.”
Slater said the players can’t use the excuse Reece Walsh is out injured having called for the players to stand up during the State of Origin schedule. “There’s no doubt that Ezra Mam and Reece Walsh make the Broncos a better side, it just helps with the balance. At the same time, I’m sure they are looking at themselves and the players that they did have on Friday night [against the Rabbitohs],” he added on the podcast.
“You have to look at what’s in front of you. They can’t just say ‘we’re getting a couple of big names back, we’ll wait for them’ … you have to look at the standard of your footy.”