EXCLUSIVE: Broncos director Darren Lockyer pressed on burning Ezra Mam issue after Roosters rout
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Brisbane legend Darren Lockyer has urged suspended young gun Ezra Mam to keep a close eye on his veteran teammates while serving a nine-game ban.
Mam is not available for selection until round 10 after copping the ban and a $120,000 NRL fine after pleading guilty to one count of driving while relevant drug is present in blood, and driving without a licence over a car crash in October.
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The 22-year-old was on the verge of winning a Clive Churchill Medal in the 2023 grand final until his heroics were undone by Nathan Cleary's Panthers in 15 minutes of mayhem.
He was one of the hottest young players in the game and inked a five-year contract extension last February, said to be worth $4 million.
The year then fell off a cliff as his own form dipped and the Broncos missed finals, the coach was sacked and then he narrowly avoided jail.
Ezra Mam of the Broncos. Getty
The club recruited veteran playmaker Ben Hunt, who alongside fellow elder statesman Adam Reynolds last week orchestrated a 50-14 demolition of the Roosters to kickstart their season under new coach Michael Maguire.
Hunt had initially flagged an intent to play hooker once Mam was back in the No.6 jumper but with the likes of Cory Paix, Billy Walters, Blake Mozer, and Tyson Smoothy also battling for the No.9 jumper, spine spots are in hot demand at Red Hill.
On Wide World of Sports' QLDER, club director Lockyer was asked whether Mam will struggle to get back into the team.
"I think it's a premature conversation," Lockyer said.
"It's a long way to go and a lot can happen between now and then with the current combination.
"It's a good thing. Ezra's obviously been working hard to rehabilitate himself physically and mentally, and he's doing that, he's doing a good job.
"His day will come when he gets an opportunity to get back into the team, but when that is exactly we don't know.
"In the interim, I'd say to Ezra watch how this combination is working and see what you can learn from it."
As part of his NRL suspension, Mam is not allowed to play rugby league at any level - but is allowed to train with the Broncos.
Lockyer says the young playmaker could theoretically come straight back into first grade with no match fitness under his belt.
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"It depends on a couple of things - the situation in the first grade team, and also his physical (fitness) and if the coach has got confidence in him playing NRL straight away," he said.
"I think you make that call when you get closer to it."
Hunt and Reynolds are the oldest starting halves combination in the NRL in almost three decades.
But the pair ran rings around the Roosters last week as the Broncos scored nine tries on a wet and slippery Allianz Stadium.
"They understand what the team needs from each individual and they are prepared to do that," Lockyer said.
"I thought it was very measured from both of them. They combined and complemented each other.
"Some good signs there. I mean it's only one game, but the signs were there in the trials.
"The important part now is (the players) keep their feet on the ground. There were a lot of things to like."
The Broncos travel to Canberra this week to face the Raiders on Saturday.
