- Brisbane Broncos star received a breach notice from the league
- Pleaded guilty to having drugs in the system at the time of the crash
Brisbane star Ezra Mam will be banned for nine matches after receiving a violation notice from the NRL for bringing the game and the Broncos into disrepute.
Mom, 22, was fined $850 for drink driving and driving without a license when he appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on December 16. He was disqualified from driving for nine months and given a fine for not having proper control of a vehicle.
The NRL has proposed a ban, but due to the collective bargaining agreement with the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA), the details of the sanction cannot be announced by the governing body until Mam has responded to the notice, which claims he has violated the rules of the NRL has violated. code of conduct.
It is understood that the proposed suspension is nine matches.
The infringement notice alleges that Mam has engaged in conduct that is contrary to law and has brought the game and its club into disrepute.
The court’s ruling related to an incident on October 18 when Mom drove his Ford Ranger into oncoming traffic and collided with a car driven by Uber driver Marcel Van Den Camp.
The NRL will ban Ezra Mam (pictured) for nine matches after he pleaded guilty to drink-driving in a crash that sent three people to hospital
A young girl was taken to hospital with a broken hip following the collision with mum’s car in October
Injured in the incident were the driver, his female passenger and her infant daughter, who were all taken to hospital, with the daughter suffering a hip fracture.
In court, Magistrate Mark Nolan gave Mum a verbal outburst.
He chastised the Broncos kingpin for his ‘stupid decision’ to drive without a license with a ‘cocktail of cocaine’ and other drugs in his system
“On so many levels, you are fortunate to be where you are today, having been involved in a two-vehicle motorcycle accident,” he said.
“You could have been… killed, or the other parties could have been… killed.
“There is no place for illegal drugs in our community and there is certainly no place for someone who uses illegal drugs to get behind the wheel of a car. You have to learn from this.’
The punishment imposed on Mam caused public outrage.
“I think it’s a shame,” Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said, describing the punishment as “a slap on the wrist.”
Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington agreed and said the government would consider changes to the law.
“I can understand why this outcome doesn’t pass the pub test for many Queenslanders,” she said.
Pictured: The aftermath of the collision between an Uber driver’s vehicle and Mom’s Ford Ranger
Magistrate condemned Mom’s ‘stupid decision’ to drive with a ‘cocktail’ of cocaine and other drugs in his system, warning the Broncos star he could have killed someone
“Most Queenslanders would expect that the penalty for a driver with drugs in his system would be more severe than the penalty for using a mobile phone while behind the wheel.”
“I will be consulting with my colleagues, in particular the Minister for Transport, and considering what changes can be made to our laws.”
Mom apologized publicly.
“This incident is not a reflection of who I want to be (or) what is expected of me as a role model,” he said.
“To the NRL, the Brisbane Broncos, the fans and my family: I am sorry. I promise to work to become a better person and a representative of the club and the game I love.”
The Broncos have a contingency to compensate for Mom’s absence. They recruited Ben Hunt on a two-year contract after the former St George Illawarra captain secured a release.
Mom has played 57 NRL games for the Broncos after making his debut in 2022. He scored three tries in the 2023 grand final against Penrith but could not recapture that form last season as the Broncos faded to finish 12th.