- Ezra Mam made his return to rugby league on Sunday afternoon
- But the Broncos five-eighth has landed in hot water again
Broncos star Ezra Mam’s return to rugby league began on a horror note with the playmaker being placed on report after his first tackle in a Queensland Cup game.
Having completed the nine-match ban imposed on him by the NRL for injuring three people in a car crash while driving with drugs in his system and unlicensed, Mam returned via reserve grade with Souths Logan Magpies on Sunday.
The five-eighth is now facing the prospect of being suspended again after being reported for a high tackle on Western Clydesdales prop Lachlan Mears-Crabbe, who was rattled and stayed down temporarily.
Mam’s right arm crept up too high in a two-man tackle deep in Clydesdales territory.
Reserve-grade bans are counted by the NRL, so if Mam is suspended for the high tackle he will not be available to make his top-grade return next week against the Dragons.
A suspension would not only be a blow for Mam but the Broncos, who are hoping for him to replace the injured Ben Hunt who suffered a serious hamstring injury on Friday.
Hunt limped off late in the Broncos’ clash with the Rabbitohs, won by South Sydney 22-14.
Souths Logan took out the Queensland Cup clash 66-10 in what was a rescheduled round one fixture.
Mam managed to score a try, while hooker Tyson Smoothy crossed for a double.
‘It is a great feeling to be back doing what I love, and it was good to see friends and family and some of the boys down here.
‘It is my first game back and I’d be lying if I said I was ready. I’m just grateful to be back playing.’
A former Broncos star, Justin Hodges, believes Mam is the man to rescue the Broncos’ season.
‘He was outstanding. That just shows the type of player that he is. He is too good to be playing here but obviously it is a privilege to have him.
‘Once Ezra gets back things should change [for the Broncos].
‘You have a look at the success they had in 2023, everything came off the back of Ezra and Adam Reynolds steering things around.
‘Look at all those little neat and tidy things he did, like popping up with off-loads, kick chases, and scoring tries off kicks. You need that guy … once Ezra gets back, he will give them that confidence.