Ezra Mam’s return to the NRL has been postponed, with the star five-eighth set to make his comeback with Souths-Logan in the Queensland Cup instead.
Mam won’t play in Friday night’s NRL match against South Sydney. Instead, he will feature in Souths-Logan’s game against the Western Clydesdales at Davies Park on Sunday, reuniting with his former club.
Now eligible to play after serving a nine-match NRL suspension for driving under the influence of drugs and without a licence, the 22-year-old has been cleared to return for the Broncos this week.
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds supported the decision to reintroduce Mam gradually through the Queensland Cup.
“After being out of the game for so long, it’s important to get back into rhythm and focus on the basics first,” Reynolds said. “Throwing him straight into the NRL wouldn’t be fair. It’s a demanding level of play. He’s eager to return to Souths-Logan and continue developing his game. He’ll be back in the NRL soon.”
The incident that led to Mam’s suspension occurred on October 18, when he collided head-on with an Uber vehicle, injuring the driver, a female passenger, and her child.
He received an $850 fine, had his licence suspended for six months, and was issued a nine-game suspension and a $120,000 fine jointly by the NRL and Brisbane Broncos.
Since January 7, Mam has been attending Broncos home games and training with the squad, following his stay in a rehabilitation facility for personal matters.
Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs voiced support for Mam, reflecting on his own experiences.
“Everyone makes mistakes and learns from them,” Staggs said. “He understands his wrongdoing and wants to focus on football and his teammates. We’ve stood by him since the beginning.”
Reynolds also praised Mam’s response to the setback.
“He hasn’t let it break him. He’s put in hard work both at training and in his personal life,” Reynolds said. “People don’t see everything he’s doing behind the scenes. We all love and support Ez.”
During Magic Round on Sunday, Mam faced boos from part of the crowd—something the club acknowledges he’ll need to prepare for.
“I don’t think those were our fans,” Staggs said. “Ours support him just like we do.”
Mam, who began his junior career with the Goodna Eagles in Ipswich before moving to Souths-Logan, was named Queensland Cup Rookie of the Year in 2021. He debuted in the NRL in 2022 and made headlines in the 2023 grand final, scoring a hat-trick despite Brisbane’s narrow loss to Penrith.
