Will Ezra Ma’am be fired? We assess options for replacing the Brisbane Broncos at five-eighths

Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam’s future at the club hangs in the balance following a recent car accident which left the four-year-old with a fractured hip.

Mam allegedly failed a roadside drug test and was driving without a license when his vehicle veered into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with an Uber carrying two passengers.

It was later revealed that Mam entered rehab on Monday, while police are reportedly awaiting the results of a follow-up blood test before potentially charging the 21-year-old man over the incident.

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Brisbane chief executive Dave Donaghy spoke earlier this week but said the club was awaiting more information before deciding what action they might take.

“We haven’t had a deep internal discussion, we want to make sure we have all the information so we can make the right decision,” Donaghy said.

“But of course from a club point of view we are very disappointed to find ourselves in this position.”

Will Ezra Ma’am be fired?

Ahead of a standout 2023 NRL season, Mame has signed an impressive contract extension tying him to the Broncos until the end of 2029 in a deal worth around $4 million.

Mam was one of several Brisbane players whose performances in 2024 did not match their efforts the previous season, and his off-field exploits may cause the club to question their decision.

Before the car crash, Mum made headlines during a post-season trip to Bali with Reece Walsh, where she reportedly had to replace a fan’s phone after it broke following an altercation with footballers.

If the 21-year-old’s secondary drug test comes back positive, the pressure on the club to take drastic action will be intense, especially given the injury suffered by the four-year-old passenger.

However, Mame’s sacking would almost certainly lead to him moving to another club, likely at a reduced price, which would put the Broncos in an awkward position.

Maguire was asked on Wednesday whether the mum would be fired over the matter.

“I’m not even going to touch on it now,” Maguire said, before Donaghy later detailed the situation.

“We haven’t talked about it in detail, but it’s obviously a serious matter and we treat it that way,” Donaghy added.

“Once we have all the information, we can move forward and develop the next course of action. But I don’t think it will be a quick process.”

In addition, if the charges against him are proven, Mamu will likely face sanctions from the NRL.

The most extreme course of action they could take would be to de-register his contract, when the more likely option would be to suspend him.

Either way, temporary or long term, new manager Michael Maguire will have to come up with a back-up plan.

Who will replace Ezra Mam on the Broncos?

Ben Hunt

If Ma’am is fired or indeed deregistered, Ben Hunt’s return to Red Hill could be a possibility.

Hunt played 187 games for the Broncos after starting his career with the club in 2009.

Despite having a year left on his current contract with the Dragons, the experienced playmaker has been allowed to negotiate with rival clubs.

Under the deal, which is reportedly worth just a million a year, the Broncos will have no problem putting the 34-year-old in their cap if Mama’s salary matches the deal.

The midfield pairing of Hunt and Adam Reynolds would be virtually unrivaled in experience, skill and striking ability.

Braydon Trindall

Another permanent option if Mam is no longer at the club could be 25-year-old five-eighth Braydon Trindall, who will be free to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1.

The wily Cronulla midfielder enjoyed the best season of his career in 2024 and is reportedly earning around $300,000 a season and is due a significant pay rise.

Since Mam’s salary is already spread over the next five seasons, the Broncos will have plenty of wiggle room if his contract is terminated due to a car accident.

Jock Madden

If Mam has been suspended by a club or the NRL, they may try to plug the hole with a temporary internal option.

Jock Madden, 24, has made 32 first-class appearances, including 10 this year, filling in at halfback for the injured Reynolds.

Having started his career under Maguire at Wests Tigers, Madden is already maintaining a relationship with the new manager.

Billy Walters

The decision to left field allowed Billy Walters to return to the position he played in his early freshman years.

While Walters has primarily played as a hooker in his three seasons with the Broncos, Maguire is reportedly interested in retaining forgotten halfback Corey Pax, possibly opening the door for Walters to be deployed in a different role.