Wendell Sailor's fears for Broncos amid $3 million Ezra Mam development

Former Broncos star Wendell Sailor has expressed his concerns around the multi-million dollar development surrounding gun Brisbane playmaker, Ezra Mam. The Broncos five-eighth revealed this week that he is intent on remaining at the club beyond 2024, having starred for Kevin Walters' side in the heartbreaking NRL grand final defeat to the Nathan Cleary-inspired Penrith Panthers.

The 20-year-old - whose value would have skyrocketed after his stunning hat-trick in the grand final - is currently off contract at Brisbane at the end of next season, meaning he's free to speak with rival clubs from November 1. However, Mam has indicated he wants to stay at Red Hill amid reports from the Courier Mail that the Broncos have tabled an extension for the 20-year-old worth around $3 million.

'VERY CHALLENGING': Ricky Stuart's telling admission amid Raiders upheaval

'A GREAT PICK': Matty Johns makes huge call on NSW State of Origin coach

'CANCELLED THAT': Dylan Edwards' family reveal after Kangaroos call-up

Mam could quite easily command more money at a rival club if he were to go onto the open market but the crafty No.6 says he's keen to follow in the footsteps of Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan in committing his future to the club. Haas put pen to paper on a whopping $3.5 million extension earlier this year, while Carrigan also pledged his future to the Broncos in a lucrative new deal.

Brisbane are also keen to tie up superstar fullback Reece Walsh on a new long-term deal, with the Maroons fullback likely to command around $1 million per season at the Broncos. Walsh's deal for 2023 saw him pocket around $450,000, while Mam was reportedly on around $250,000.

Speaking on Triple M on Tuesday, Sailor said his concern around the big-money development surrounding Mam means the Broncos are spreading themselves very thin in terms of the salary cap. Veteran halfback Adam Reynolds is another player the Broncos have been working hard on retaining in another lucrative deal, meaning more than $4 million of the club's annual salary cap could be tied into just five players.

"I like Ezra but look, that's big dollars," Sailor said on Triple M about Mam's reported new deal. "I was just talking a couple of months ago about paying Reece Walsh a million dollars.

"So if you're paying him a million dollars, you're paying Payne Haas a million dollars... you're top heavy, something's gotta go."

Ezra Mam keen to sign Brisbane Broncos extension

It's understood a four-year deal for Mam would start at around $750,000 per season, with the five-eighth set to see incremental rises in line with the salary cap every season. The final year of the deal would see the playmaker rake in around $900,000.

Mam's standout year saw him score 18 tries in 25 games to help the Broncos finish the regular season in second spot and charge into the grand final. His form in 2023 has led to many experts suggesting the 20-year-old playmaker could command around $1 million per season on the open market, particularly as there is a shortage of elite No.6's in the NRL.

However, the Ipswich young gun has made it clear that being part of a winning culture at the Broncos is more important to him and says the re-signing of Haas and Carrigan has helped convince him his future lies at Red Hill.

“It (signing a new deal) would definitely be a great opportunity to jump on the bandwagon here with the other boys and make the Broncos great again," Mam said. "Seeing Payne re-sign and all the other boys stay here, it’s a huge factor for myself.

“Hopefully we can get that (new) deal done soon. I’ll be here for a long time...

“I love the Broncos because of the culture and the professionalism of the club. It’s a great bond we have here and it’s important we keep this team together. Keeping that bond means a lot to me and I want to be part of keeping the bond here for a long time.”

Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.