'Not gonna touch on that': Broncos star Ezra Mam breaks silence on drug driving charges
Broncos star Ezra Mam has spoken publicly for the first time since being found guilty of drug driving charges, dodging questions about the incident itself.
The 22-year-old copped a nine-game NRL suspension over the off-field incident, while also being slapped with a huge club-imposed fine.
Mam fronted media at Red Hill on Thursday and was forced to face the music, fielding questions about the crash and his use of cocaine.
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Ezra Mam was involved in a head-on crash last year. Nine
"I'm probably not gonna touch on that at this point in time," he said.
"That's the past and right now I'm looking forward to moving forward. I've done a bit of work behind the scenes to overcome that point in time.
"I do understand that I play a big part in young people's lives. What's happened has happened and I have had to accept that. The only way I can get myself back out there is through my actions and gaining respect for my actions on and off the field.
"I'm truly sorry and I regret what I've done. I was in the wrong, but right now I am looking forward to getting back on the right path."
Mam spent time in rehab after the incident and says he has "done a lot of work" to improve his life away from football.
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The five-eighth also said he had reached out to the victims, which included a young girl who was injured in the crash.
Ezra Mam fronts the media for the first time since his car crash. Nine
"Leading up to the court case, for legal reasons I wasn't able to reach out to the victims, which was on my mind," Mam said.
"Once the court case was settled, I reached out that day and expressed myself to them and wanted to catch up and show how I sorry I was.
"I've reached out a couple of times to them to meet up, but I don't want to cramp their space and be too pushy. I just want to respect their boundaries, and when the time is right and they get back to me, then we'll go from there."
While he won't be back on a rugby league field until May, the fleet-footed playmaker acknowledged it could have been a lot worse.
Brisbane contemplated tearing up the star's lucrative contract and that fact wasn't lost on Mam when it was suggested to him during a tense media session, where he also opened up on the early stages of his relationship with new coach Michael Maguire.
Michael Maguire has taken the reins at the Broncos. Nine
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried," he admitted.
"I'm just grateful that I did get the opportunity that I get to keep going for the Brisbane Broncos. I want to repay the Broncos for giving me a second chance.
"I hadn't had much to do with Madge, but I had a couple of conversations with him during my time away. I think for him, it was about getting to know me and keeping me on track and wanting to know how I was feeling.
"Madge was a good part of that support that was around me … the main message that I got was to face anything when it came."
Mam will be available to return for Brisbane's round 10 clash with the Rabbitohs.
