NRL

Brisbane Broncos star set to be handed monster ban by NRL

by
Sam Cook
December 24, 2024

Brisbane Broncos star Ezra Mam is reportedly set to be handed a monster ban by the NRL following his drug driving offences.

That is per the Australian Associated Press who have disclosed that the NRL are plotting to hand the 21-year-old a nine-match ban following his actions in October.

Mam, who debuted in the NRL in 2022 before breaking out with an incredible 2023 season that saw him score a hattrick in the Broncos’ Grand Final defeat, was involved in a head-on car crash on October 18th.

Last week, he pleaded guilty to drug driving and driving without a licence which saw him handed an $850 fine and a six-month driving disqualification – something that has caused outrage Down Under with arguments that the punishment is far too lenient.

However, now the NRL are set to take action with the league handing Mam a breach notice.

Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the RLPA (Rugby League Players Association), the details of that breach notice cannot be revealed until Mam responds to it, however, the AAP have reported that the “suggested suspension is nine games”.

NRL star Ezra Mam in line for reported nine-match ban

Ezra Mam of the Broncos during the NRL round 13 match between the New Zealand Warriors and the Brisbane Broncos at McLean Park in Napier, New Zealand on Saturday May 27, 2023.

A nine-game ban would rule Mam out until Brisbane’s game against South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round Ten, although that is still yet to be confirmed.

Per the AAP, the breach will allege that the player has ‘engaged in conduct which is against the law and has brought the game and his club into disrepute’.

After his hearing last week, which elicited the six-month driving ban and $850 fine, Mam apologise to those involved, the NRL, the Broncos, his teammates, fans and family,

Speaking after the hearing, he said: “To all the people involved in this accident, I’m truly sorry.

“This incident isn’t a reflection of who I want to be or what is expected of me as a role model.

“And, to the NRL, the Broncos, my teammates, the fans, and my family – I am sorry, and I promise to be a better person and representative of the club and the game that I love.”

Since the incident in October, Brisbane have signed Ben Hunt with the ex-St George star signing a two-year deal at the club. He will likely start the season alongside fellow veteran Adam Reynolds whilst Mam serves his ban.

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5 Comments

Russel

December 24, 2024 at 8:20 am

Wow. Is this website owned by the ABC? Or are the journalist’s that write for this site mentally unstable, biased, employed by News Ltd or The Broncos? An NRL player who plays for the Brisbane Broncos (Partially Owned by News Limited) and is a Torres Strait Islander (One of the many groups of people who in the current left aligned social landscape are immune to factually backed criticism), receives a ban for a crime that should have been punished much worse than that of the sentence that was handed down is labelled a “Monster Ban”. I cannot express in typed words how ridiculous that is. A “Monster Ban” would imply a ban that was more than what was expected. And based on the general population, the minimum expected ban was the entire 2025 NRL season. The ban was anything but “Monster”. Most people would say the “Monster” got off easy, considering their driving history. If the player fit into any of the 2 following categories they would be rubbed out for a year or worse, banished from the game. :
– White
– In a less popular NRL team

I am open to any replies, especially any that could change my mind on the above. Although, I am not sure that is possible??

Please explain.

Reply
- Anonymous
  
  December 29, 2024 at 12:50 am
  
  Should be ban from playing altogether. Your laws are too soft
  
  Reply
Anonymous

December 24, 2024 at 7:51 pm

Spencer Leniu was suspended for ages for calling this guy a name. Now this guy while under the influence of drugs and unlicensed has a collision in his car and injures people! What a joke, he should miss the entire season as a minimum!

Reply
Allan Niral

December 26, 2024 at 10:36 pm

Absolute joke of a headline. Monster ban? 9 weeks? Let’s forget about the fact he was driving whilst disqualified, on drugs and smashed into a car, sending 2 people to hospital. And to top it off, he has a history of driving offences. 9 weeks would be a slap in the face of the people he injured and would show that the NRL don’t give a damn about public expectations

Reply
Peter Quirk

December 27, 2024 at 7:41 am

So what??? I got a bigger fine and more points for failing to slow down from 100kmh to 80 kmh and cost me iver $1000 and 4 points.did ibhit anything?? No..did i injure anyone?NO. Am i a footballer?? No. Get real judges

Reply