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How Bulldogs' Josh Addo-Carr contract move is set to seal Ezra Mam's Broncos fate

The Bulldogs are expected to tear up Addo-Carr's NRL contract.

ben talintyre
Sports Reporter
·4-min read

OPINION

The Bulldogs are expected to tear up Josh Addo-Carr's Bulldogs contract in the coming days, with the under-fire winger summoned to front the club's board to explain himself on Thursday. The future of the former representative winger has been under a cloud since he was pulled over by NSW Police and tested positive for cocaine while driving last month.

The 29-year-old was handed a $15,000 fine and a four-game ban from the NRL and was stood down from Canterbury's elimination final defeat to Manly. Throughout the saga Addo-Carr has consistently maintained his innocence despite two separate tests coming back positive for cocaine in his system.

The Bulldogs are expected to tear up Josh Addo-Carr's NRL contract which could spell bad news for Ezra Mam. Image: Getty
The Bulldogs are expected to tear up Josh Addo-Carr's NRL contract which could spell bad news for Ezra Mam. Image: Getty

But now Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould - who initially threw his support behind the winger - says he and the board need to speak with Addo-Carr about his playing future. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Friday the Bulldogs have issued the winger with a show cause notice and it now seems inevitable that he will be sacked.

The fallout from that decision is expected to be widespread. Teams such as the Dragons will then have to decide whether or not to offer Addo-Carr a deal. While for the Broncos, a precedent has been set by a rival club that driving under the influence of drugs will not be tolerated.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 21: Josh Addo-Carr of the Bulldogs warms up prior to the round seven NRL match between Canterbury Bulldogs and Newcastle Knights at Accor Stadium, on April 21, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Josh Addo-Carr is expected to be sacked by the Bulldogs on Thursday. Image: Getty

This will put Brisbane's management in the spotlight as if Ezra Mam's allegedly positive drug test result is confirmed, as anything less than his contract being torn up shows poor leadership and a lack of accountability - two things the club has been heavily criticised for already. Broncos coach Michael Maguire and the club say it's too early to comment on whether or not Mam will be sacked, and will let authorities conclude their investigations before deciding the next course of action.

Queensland Police are yet to press charges but will allege Mam was unlicensed and failed a roadside drug test after allegedly slamming head-on into an Uber, injuring the driver and the two passengers in the back seat. Police are still awaiting the results of a second test and they also allege the Broncos five-eighth was driving unlicensed at the time.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 05: Ezra Mam of the Broncos passes the ball during the round 18 NRL match between Brisbane Broncos and Penrith Panthers at Suncorp Stadium, on July 05, 2024, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Ezra Mam's Broncos future is clouded in uncertainty. Image: Getty

In Maguire's first official day in charge at Red Hill he spent most of it fending off questions about Mam's future. Maguire was hired to replace Kevin Walters after the former coach was sacked off the back of their underwhelming season in 2024, in which they went from grand finalists the year before to finishing 12th and missing the finals.

Following Walters' axing Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy admitted the club has some cultural and leadership issues that need to be addressed and they've backed renowned disciplinarian Maguire to address those problems. And that will surely mean if Mam's second test comes back positive there is no other choice but to sack him.

WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - MAY 01: Tigers coach Michael Maguire looks on during the round eight NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Wests Tigers at WIN Stadium on May 01, 2022 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Michael Maguire faces a lot of challenges at the Broncos. Image: Getty

The NRL took action against Addo-Carr, suspending him for four matches and fining him $15,000 after he accepted a $682 fine and a three-month suspension from driving after he tested positive for cocaine on September 6. The Bulldogs are now set to sack the winger, setting a precedent that driving under the influence of drugs will not be tolerated.

While further north at Red Hill, Mam will find himself in a drastically worse position if the secondary test comes back positive. He allegedly failed a roadside drug test and was also allegedly driving unlicensed.

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And Mam's driving incident is poised to cost the star some serious cash and likely his NRL contract. If he is charged and found guilty he has to pay for the repair costs for both vehicles and pay any fines given to him by his club or the league. The NRL and Broncos will also be expected to come down hard on him in terms of his contract.

Many believe Addo-Carr got off lightly with a four-week penalty and the likelihood his Bulldogs future was over. But if Mam is found guilty he is potentially looking at a year's ban from the NRL and even if the league doesn't come down hard on him, Brisbane will be left with no option but to sack him or face mass backlash and outrage across the NRL world.