Calls for Ezra Mam to make immediate return to Brisbane Broncos as stint in rehab ends

NRL greats Scott Sattler and Mat Rogers have declared Ezra Mam should be free to make an immediate return to Brisbane Broncos training after his stint in rehab ended this week. Mam has been charged by Queensland Police for driving under the influence of drugs and being unlicensed after a head-on collision last month that reportedly left a four-year-old girl with a broken hip.

But crucially, police have confirmed there won't be any more charges levelled against the Broncos player in relation to the injuries that resulted from the crash. It means Mam will likely face a much lesser punishment from the NRL than what he might have if further charges were laid.

According to reports, Mam has now left a rehab facility after a month-long stint following the incident. He's technically free to train with the Broncos because the charges don't trigger the NRL's no-fault stand-down policy, which is reserved for more serious offences that carry possible jail time.

Should Ezra Mam return to Broncos training immediately?

But the Broncos are said to be wary of rushing Mam straight back into the spotlight and will give him until the new year before getting him to training. But discussing the situation on SEN radio on Tuesday evening, Sattler and Rogers questioned whether it'd be better to get Mam back around his teammates.

"If Ezra Mam did return to Broncos training next week, do you think it's a bad look?" Sattler asked. But Rogers immediately said: "No. he's been to rehab. He's doing the right thing. Going to training is different to playing.

"I'm not saying let him back in (to play), but it's his job. I don't think he'll be playing for the first few months of the season, but he's still got to do his job. You have to be allowed to go to work."

Sattler suggested the Broncos should "drip feed" Mam back in by doing gym sessions here and there, but Rogers said he believes he should be allowed to return to full training immediately. "Get him out there to front the media and get amongst it," Rogers declared.

Sattler added: "There's going to be a media frenzy when he does return to training, but you just have to rip the band-aid off. The sooner the better. And sometimes getting back amongst teammates is the best way to be re-introduced into society. And being able to get back to normality."

Rogers finished up by saying: "The NRL will come down with some sort of sanction after the court case is heard in mid-December. He's not going to be playing straight away, but get him back to training."

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Ezra Mam and Michael Maguire speak out

Speaking to the Courier Mail last week, Mam said he was keen to make amends and atone for his mistake. “I understand the seriousness of the situation,” he said. “I understand the importance in myself standing up to take responsibility for my actions. I will co-operate with the legal process to come. I also understand my responsibilities as a role model in the community and I’m prepared to work hard to live up to those expectations going forward."

New Broncos coach Michael Maguire declared Mam won't have his $4 million contract terminated, and vowed to help the 21-year-old. “We are working through things and I am working through with the organisation around the whole situation," Maguire said.

“We need to make sure we are slow about our decisions because we have to see everything for what it is. It’s a big incident and it’s not taken lightly, but Ezra is working on himself and making sure he is going through his process. We will need to connect with everyone who has been involved in that accident.”