Why Ezra Mam's suspension for the Brisbane Broncos is simply not good enough from the NRL

OPINION

If the NRL is serious about sending a strong message and protecting the image of the game, then the proposed nine-week ban for Brisbane Broncos star Ezra Mam is simply not good enough. As the judge in his recent drug-driving case pointed out, Mam was lucky he didn't seriously injury or kill himself, or the three occupants of the other car when he was driving unlicensed and with a cocktail of drugs in his system, causing a crash in Brisbane in October.

Mam was slugged with an $850 fine and disqualified from driving for six months, but had no conviction recorded in a sentencing that outraged the community and left Queensland's Attorney-General calling for changes to the state's laws. Mam's $850 fine was significantly less than the penalty for driving a car while talking on a mobile phone and Queensland Premier Jarrod Bleijie described the sentence for the Broncos star as "a slap on the wrist."

There was a sense the NRL had an opportunity to come down hard on Mam and send a message that such actions won't be tolerated from the league's players. But judging by the mountain of backlash from fans on social media after learning that Mam is set to miss less than half the season, it appears the NRL has dropped the ball big time.

The proposed nine-week suspension would mean Mam is eligible to return for the Broncos' Round 10 game against South Sydney, with the NRL indicating he wouldn't be allowed to use the All Stars game to count towards the suspension. Even still, nine weeks is just one more week than Spencer Leniu got for racially vilifying Mam during the opening round in Las Vegas this year.

Racism has no place in society either and the NRL was right to make an example of Leniu, but it begs the question as to how Mam's offence is even close to being on par with what Leniu did. Even former Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce was banned for eight weeks and copped a $125,000 fine for simulating a sex act on a dog in 2016.

Making matters worse in Mam's case are reports the Broncos star had been suspended from driving three times since 2021 for a range of offences, including the use of a mobile phone behind the wheel that saw him cop four demerit points and a $1161 fine, leading to his suspension before the accident. According to The Courier Mail, Mam had also been caught failing to stop at a red light, exceeding the speed limit by less than 13km/h, not wearing a seatbelt properly and failing to pay a debt.

Many fans wanted minimum 12-week ban for Ezra Mam

Following his court case and what was widely labelled an extremely lenient sentence, many fans were calling for the NRL to ban him for the season, such was the serious nature of the offence and the fact he put himself and members of the community in danger through reckless actions. Others suggested 12 weeks was the minimum suspension that Mam should have received if the NRL was serious about sending a strong message. The Broncos could still impose their own sanctions against Mam now that the NRL has made its position clear but the messy saga has thrown up numerous questions.

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The timing of the proposed sanction against Mam just before Christmas is also questionable from the NRL and allows the saga to fly more under the radar than if it was announced in the new year. As it stands, Mam has five business days to respond to the proposed ban meaning the final outcome may not be known until early in 2025. But the widespread backlash around the proposed nine-week ban for Mam suggests the NRL have dropped the ball big time.