The Brisbane Broncos’ season is hanging by a thread, and Michael Maguire is running out of time to find answers. If the reigning premiers are to produce one of the greatest late-season turnarounds in NRL history, one selection decision stands above all others.
That decision is simple.
Ezra Mam needs to start at five-eighth.
After eight consecutive defeats, Brisbane sits outside the finals positions and must produce an extraordinary finish to keep its premiership defence alive. While injuries and State of Origin have played a part, several leading rugby league analysts believe the Broncos have become too predictable in attack—and Mam is the player capable of changing that.
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The debate intensified after Brisbane’s latest loss to Cronulla.
Mam began the match on the interchange bench before entering the game later, a move that drew criticism from Fox League commentators Michael Ennis, Braith Anasta and Greg Alexander.
Anasta questioned why Brisbane’s most dangerous running five-eighth wasn’t starting, while Ennis suggested the Broncos lacked genuine attacking spark with Ben Hunt and Tom Duffy steering the side.
It’s difficult to disagree.
At his best, Mam brings something few halves in the NRL possess.
His speed through the middle, ability to challenge defensive lines and instinctive support play create opportunities that can’t always be coached. While his form has fluctuated this season, Brisbane has generally looked more dangerous with the 23-year-old on the field than without him.
To Maguire’s credit, there was logic behind the original decision.
Mam was returning from a shoulder injury, while the coach has repeatedly stressed the importance of selecting players based on current form and defensive standards rather than reputation. Maguire has also insisted he is focused on winning games now—not experimenting with his team for next season.
But circumstances have changed.
The Broncos no longer have the luxury of easing players back into form.
Every remaining game is effectively an elimination final.
If Brisbane is going to challenge Penrith and the other contenders over the final weeks of the season, it needs its most dangerous attacking players on the field from the opening whistle.
That means Mam at five-eighth.
It also means Adam Reynolds returning to direct the side as soon as he is fully fit, allowing Ben Hunt to play a more natural running role through the middle when required. With Reynolds, Mam and Hunt together, Brisbane possesses far more variety than it has shown during its recent losing streak.
Of course, selection alone won’t fix everything.
The Broncos’ error rate, discipline and defensive lapses have all contributed to their dramatic slide down the ladder. Maguire himself acknowledged after the Cronulla loss that Brisbane failed to build pressure through possession, making it difficult for players such as Mam to influence the contest once they entered the game.
But great coaches also know when to back instinct over caution.
Mam has already shown he can perform on the biggest stage, helping Brisbane reach a grand final before becoming a premiership winner in 2025.
Now the Broncos need that version of Ezra Mam again.
Because if Brisbane is going to pull off the impossible and defend its premiership, it won’t happen with its most explosive playmaker watching the opening exchanges from the bench.
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