Ezra Mam speaks out after being charged by police as Michael Maguire responds to Broncos drama
Mam's court date has been set after he was officially charged for alleged drug driving.
Broncos star Ezra Mam says he is taking responsibility for his actions after being formally charged by police over an alleged drug driving incident in October. Brisbane's new coach Michael Maguire has also addressed the latest development around his 21-year-old five-eighth, who is set to face a Brisbane court in December, charged with driving while a relevant drug was present in his blood and driving without a licence.
Mam was involved in a head-on-crash with an Uber driver in the Brisbane suburb of Bardon last month that reportedly left the male driver with serious bruising and a four-year-old female passenger with a fractured hip. Mam checked himself into rehab after the incident after Queensland Police allege he failed an initial roadside drug test. On Wednesday, the NRL star was charged after a secondary test also allegedly came back positive for drugs.
The 21-year-old has now broken his silence on the drama after telling News Corp that he understands the "seriousness" of his actions. Mam says he respects the legal process that now needs to play out and has vowed to cooperate with authorities and work hard to live up to the expectations expected of him by the club and community. He's set to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on December 16.
“I understand the seriousness of the situation,” Mam told News Corp after being charged by Queensland police. “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. “
It's understood the playmaker's stint in rehab will set the 21-year-old back $100,000 and he may have to pay for the damages to both vehicles because he was allegedly driving without a license. Mam is also expected to be looking at a hefty fine from both the NRL integrity unit and the Broncos that could stretch into the hundreds-of-thousands of dollars.
Michael Maguire addresses Ezra Mam development
Recent reports suggested the NRL and Broncos were leaning towards giving Mam a second chance and not terminating his five-year, $4 million contract, if he is found guilty of the charges against him. Mam could be sidelined for at least the first couple of months of the 2025 NRL season but speaking with Triple M on Wednesday, Broncos coach Maguire said it was too early to comment on Mam's fate.
"Obviously we have to go through the process with the police and the courts and the NRL itself so there's a fair bit to go through before any sort of thoughts or decisions are made on where we sit," Maguire said. The Brisbane coach has remained in regular contact with Mam while he's been in rehab and says he looks forward to chatting to the 21-year-old about his future when he rejoins the squad.
"We'll take our time. We'll make sure we get through everything first and find out all the details," Maguire added. "I look forward to chatting to Ezra at depth once we get him back in and around the club. When that will be I'm not 100% sure, he's still obviously working on himself at the moment... In the near future those conversations will be had and we'll work on how we make sure we don't find ourselves in these situations again."
RELATED:
Madge reveals truth about claims Broncos stars could be forced to move
Jarome Luai detail amid massive Terrell May development at Tigers
Adam Reynolds cops crushing blow in shock call on Broncos captaincy
It's understood the Broncos are preparing for the the NRL integrity unit to slap Mam with a two or three-month suspension, which would sideline him for the opening eight to 12 rounds of the 2025 season. But top lawyer and former Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis explained that it might be tricky for the NRL to stand down Mam under the league's 'no fault stand-down' policy if his case drags on through court because it only covers criminal acts that carry a minimum of 11 years in prison. Hagipantelis indicated Mam would only likely be facing five years in prison or a $50,000 fine under Queensland law - at a maximum - if found guilty.
