'Going to be weird': Reece Walsh says Ezra Mam to return a better man, player

Reece Walsh believes he will benefit from having Michael Maguire at the club and teammate Ezra Mam will be the best version of himself when he returns.

Walsh spoke to media on Monday as the Broncos endure their first pre-season under the guidance of Maguire, who replaced Kevin Walters last month.

As the team converges to prepare for the 2025 season, one key member of the Broncos' playing group was not in attendance, with Mam expected to be out for an extended period.

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The five-eighth is set to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on December 16 charged with driving while a relevant drug was present in his blood and driving without a licence.

Once the police matter is settled, the NRL is likely to ban the five-eighth for several weeks.

"He's obviously got things he's dealing with and has to get through," Walsh said.

"He's an awesome person and we love having him around the club.

"It's going to be a little bit weird without him for a little bit, but I know when he gets back in here he's going to have the mindset to work really hard and get himself back up."

In addition to the ban, Mam could also face civil action from the car crash, but he won't face any further charges other than drug-driving and being unlicensed.

Walsh told reporters he and the new coach had already had some "honest conversations" before he signed his five-year extension.

The star fullback rarely fronted the media pack during the season but was front and centre ahead of the off-season, with a different mindset circulating around the club.

The Maroons fullback told reporters the chat with Maguire confirmed that his conduct on and off the field needed to improve.

"From the chats we've had already, there's (been) some really good, honest conversations, and for myself, those are the conversations you want to have to get better.

"It's pretty cool hearing them, him going up against myself in those arenas.

"It's good to know where I need to get better, and for us to have those conversations, it's all about me wanting to get better and him getting the best out of all of us.

"I know that the group is really excited to put their best foot forward and grow together."

Walsh admitted consistency had been a problem for him in recent years and he needed to evolve into more of a leader for his team.

"You look at the players like Payne [Haas], every single week he's turning up every single training session, he's turning up, so if I just take little things out of their game, Payne, Patty [Carrigan], Reyno [Adam Reynolds], all them, and just keep growing and I'm maturing as the years gone on, that's a big thing for me.

"I feel like the position I play and it's my fifth year playing now, so I think it's time for myself to start taking on more of a leader role.

"Obviously I've got so much more to learn and it's good having Madge and all the senior boys there, Reyno, that I can lean on for advice, and I want to grow into one of those leader roles and that's just about absorbing off those great people that have been around for a long time.

"If I can just continue to try and get better with the boys here and we all grow as one, I think we can all start to mature more and be those leaders that everyone needs."