The NRL future of Ezra Mam has been thrown into fresh doubt after the Brisbane Broncos star was charged by Queensland Police over an alleged drug-driving incident last month. Police allege Mam failed an initial roadside drug test while driving unlicensed after crashing into another vehicle in the Brisbane suburb Bardon on October 18, before he underwent a second blood test in hospital.
Police have now alleged the second test also came back positive for drugs and have charged Mam with one count of drive while relevant drug is present in blood, and driving without a licence. An Uber driver in the other vehicle reportedly suffered serious bruising from the head-on crash, which also left a four-year-old female passenger in the car with a fractured hip.
Mam – who checked himself into rehab after the incident – is set to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on December 16, following the charges against him by Queensland Police. Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy said the club was working closely with the NRL Integrity Unit but would respect the legal process by not commenting further at this stage about what it may mean for the 21-year-old’s future.
“Ezra is currently seeking external support and we will give him the time and space to do so,” the Broncos CEO said in a club statement. “As the matter is now before the courts, we are unable to make further comment on this matter.” Recent reports suggested the NRL and Broncos were leaning towards giving Mam a second chance and not terminating his five-year, $4 million contract, if he is found guilty of the charges against him.
It’s understood the playmaker’s stint in rehab set the 21-year-old back $100,000 and he may have to pay for the damages to both vehicles because he was allegedly driving without a license. Mam is also expected to be looking at a hefty fine from both the NRL integrity unit and the Broncos that could stretch into the hundreds-of-thousands of dollars.
Broncos unclear on potential sanctions Ezra Mam could face
Mam remained in regular contact with new Broncos coach Michael Maguire while in rehab but the Brisbane mentor admitted he was unsure what sanctions the player could be facing. It’s widely expected that Maguire could be without his five-eighth for at least the first two to three months of the new season though.
“I couldn’t tell you the time, I wouldn’t have a clue,” Maguire said when asked recently about how long Mam could be sidelined for. “That’s a work in progress. Ezra is working on himself at the moment and that is an important part, he has acknowledged where he is at so he is owning it himself. It (an NRL punishment) is out of my control.”
Maguire says it’s important that Mam has owned his mistakes and suggested he and the club are willing to give him another chance. “I have heard from him and stayed in contact. He is working on himself,” he added. “I met Ezra about four years ago and he is a good man, a young man. “He is going through a bit at the moment and he needs to sort himself out and work his way through it. I’ve said if you own it, then you can deal with it moving forward so it’s something I know he is doing.”
NRL might not have power to stand down Ezra Mam
Mam could face the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy if the matter goes to court and drags on. But it’s understood the NRL would block Brisbane from applying for salary cap dispensation for a like-for-like player to replace Mam in the event he is sidelined.
Top lawyer and former Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis explained the length of time it took for Mam to get back the results of his secondary drug test and said it can take up to three months in some cases. And Hagipantelis revealed why it might be tricky to stand Mam down under the NRL’s ‘no fault stand-down’ policy until the matter is finalised legally.
The policy only covers criminal acts that carry a minimum of 11 years in prison, and as Hagipantelis pointed out, Mam would only likely be facing five years in prison or a $50,000 fine under Queensland law – at a maximum – if found guilty. The policy does however give the NRL discretion to bend that rule if the criminal act involves women or children.
Hagipantelis admitted he wasn’t sure if the NRL would take that route given the four-year-old who was injured. “The Broncos and the NRL are sitting back and watching very carefully,” Hagipantelis said. “If Mam pleads guilty or is found guilty they will intervene, otherwise they’ll just sit back and watch the criminal proceedings – if there are any.”
