Broncos' move to bring in Todd Carney revealed amid dramas around Ezra Mam at NRL club

Broncos prop Payne Haas has praised the impact of Todd Carney after the former NRL bad boy was brought in to address the Broncos playing group about the consequences of making poor choices. New coach Michael Maguire has been given a clear directive to change the culture at the club, and his first major task has been dealing with the fallout from Ezra Mam's alleged drug driving saga.

Mam will face court this month on an alleged drug driving charge after he was involved in a collision with another vehicle that caused injuries to three of the occupants. The five-eighth spent several weeks in rehab after the accident and is expected to be ruled out for the first couple of months of the new season and slapped with a significant fine, pending the outcome of the court case.

Carney was convicted of drink driving during a controversial playing career that was cut short after a number of off-field dramas and the Broncos have turned to the former Dally M Medallist to speak with the players about thinking before they act. The 38-year-old addressed the Brisbane players as part of a mandatory NRL education session for clubs.

And Haas says the words of advice from the once troubled footy star resonated strongly for him and the Brisbane squad. The towering prop says the key takeaway from Carney's message was around "thinking about your decisions before you do it" and revealed that it struck a real chord within the Brisbane squad.

"It could really affect your career... It is a privilege to be in the position we are. Little things can add up to big things," Haas said. "I followed Toddy's career. I used to love him as a player and to see the man he is now is pretty cool.

"He's gone through lots of things and experiences that he shared with us. We are young players and he was young at the time as well. He was just sharing his experiences and what we should watch out for." Carney has turned his life around after the sad and premature end to his NRL career, with the former playmaker now a pathways coach for the Gold Coast Titans and a league caller on radio.

Michael Maguire brought in to change culture at Broncos

And the Broncos will be hoping Carney's words can help other players steer clear of the many pitfalls that young athletes face, particularly when they have plenty of free time and money. Carney's involvement is the latest example of the cultural shift that Maguire is overseeing at the Broncos, which Haas says the playing group is really buying into after a poor season in 2024 that saw them finish 12th - having made the grand final 12 months prior.

"We are a young group and just being men about being honest and up front to each other. That's what we are taking away this pre-season and all the boys are buying in and having a red-hot crack," Haas added. "I know what Madge (Maguire) is about, especially having him in Origin. I know what he brings and what he expects of us players which has made it easier to transition. I've gone through three coaches now so I am used to it all."

Haas was close to former coach Kevin Walters, who was a key reason behind his decision to extend with Brisbane before being sacked at the end of the last season. And while the representative prop says his feelings haven't changed about his former mentor, he says it's important for the Broncos' squad to move forward together and embrace the new reign under Maguire.

"Obviously it was hard at the time (when Walters was sacked) but we can't really dwell on that now," Haas said. "We've got Madge now and I am enjoying my time under Madge. I've got lots of love for Kevvie and he knows that but you can't really hold onto the past. You've got to keep on moving and be present."

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The Broncos' defence was a particular area of concern for the team in 2024 and the attitude of the players was frequently called into question. And Haas admits they need to be mentally stronger in 2025 if they hope to return to finals footy.

"Just being consistent. We started off alright (in 2024) but dropped off at the end and through the Origin period," he added. "It is a mental game, footy. When our bodies are sore we have to keep on turning up each week."

with AAP