Brisbane legend Darren Lockyer has urged suspended young gun Ezra Mam to keep a close eye on his veteran teammates while serving a nine-game ban. Mam is not available for selection until round 10 after copping the ban and a $120,000 NRL fine after pleading guilty to one count of driving while relevant drug is present in blood, and driving without a licence over a car crash in October. The 22-year-old was on the verge of winning a Clive Churchill Medal in the 2023 grand final until his heroics were undone by Nathan Cleary's Panthers in 15 minutes of mayhem. He was one of the hottest young players in the game and inked a five-year contract extension last February, said to be worth $4 million. The year then fell off a cliff as his own form dipped and the Broncos missed finals, the coach was sacked and then he narrowly avoided jail. The club recruited veteran playmaker Ben Hunt, who alongside fellow elder statesman Adam Reynolds last week orchestrated a 50-14 demolition of the Roosters to kickstart their season under new coach Michael Maguire. Hunt had initially flagged an intent to play hooker once Mam was back in the No.6 jumper but with the likes of Cory Paix, Billy Walters, Blake Mozer, and Tyson Smoothy also battling for the No.9 jumper, spine spots are in hot demand at Red Hill. On Wide World of Sports' QLDER, club director Lockyer was asked whether Mam will struggle to get back into the team. "I think it's a premature conversation," Lockyer said.
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