Ezra Mam handed suspension by NRL as sporting world reacts to 'absolute joke' ban

Broncos star Ezra Mam has reportedly been hit with a nine-game suspension by the NRL following an off-season drug-driving incident. It means the crafty five-eighth will miss the opening two months of the 2025 season and he is also set to be handed a hefty fine.

It comes after the Brisbane star was hit with an $850 fine and disqualified from driving for six months last week by the courts after he crashed in October while unlicensed and had cocaine in his system - although no conviction was recorded. A four-year-old girl was injured in the collision and reportedly suffered a broken hip. The $850 punishment for Mam has been widely criticised and led to calls for law changes in Queensland.

The NRL and the Broncos were waiting until the end of the court proceedings to hand down their own sanctions to Mam for bringing the game into disrepute. After deliberating for a few days, the NRL issued Mam with a breach notice on Monday night, proposing a nine-game ban, which will see him available for selection in Brisbane's round 10 clash with South Sydney on May 9.

The NRL’s decision comes just weeks after new Brisbane coach Michael Maguire ruled out tearing up the young halves contract, stating Mam is working “very hard in the background now” to make amends. Speaking after his hearing last week, Mam apologised for his actions and vowed to be a better man and role model moving forward.

“To all the people involved in this accident, I’m truly sorry,” Mam said. "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.” But the NRL world was outraged calling the sanction an "absolute joke".

Ezra Mam penalty sparks talk of Queensland law change

While the NRL's ban hasn't gone down well, neither did the one handed down by the courts. And last week the state government joined the outcry over the penalty handed to Mam, who re-signed with the Broncos in February on a five-year contract worth $4 million. "I think it's disgraceful," Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie told reporters. "It was a slap on the wrist."

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Queensland's Attorney-General Deb Frecklington flagged the possibility of law changes. "I can understand that for many Queenslanders, this outcome doesn't pass the pub test," she said in a statement. "Most Queenslanders would expect that the penalty for a driver who's found to have drugs in their system would be more severe than the penalty for using a mobile phone behind the wheel. I will be consulting with my colleagues, in particular the transport minister, and considering what changes can be made to our laws."