Ezra Mam has redeemed himself with a nomination for The Frownlow Medal after two off-field scandals, missing Kangaroos selection, losing State of Origin and leading his Broncos team out of the NRL finals in 2024.
All of this just 12 months after almost winning a grand final.
The Frownlow Medal is awarded to the player whose off-field demeanour epitomises the values of the modern-day footballer and draws attention to the status of footballers as role models to young Australians. It covers Australia’s four major football codes: the National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Football League (AFL), the A-League (Football) and Rugby Union’s Super Rugby competition. NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall won the inaugural medal in 2015, while NRL star Talatau Amone is the most recent recipient.
Mam is currently being investigated after crashing his car and allegedly returning a positive test for drugs while driving. He was involved in an accident in a Brisbane suburb recently and had scans on his head following the collision. The star playmaker was later released and the Broncos said he was treated for “minor injuries”.
The proud Queenslander underwent initial roadside drug and alcohol tests, to which AAP has been told he returned a positive result for drugs.
Just weeks earlier, Mam and his fellow Broncos superstar, Reece Walsh, were involved in a scandal in Bali when they clashed with a member of the public at a bar during an argument over photos on a cell phone.
This incident certainly strengthens his chances of winning the Frownlow in 2024 and redeeming what has been a forgettable season.
His Broncos crashed out of the finals despite a list of star players, and the coach was eventually sacked. Mam also had to watch his beloved Maroons lose the Origin series to NSW and should now be in the Kangaroos squad playing in the Pacific Championships instead of facing police and the NRL Integrity Unit. He would also be a premiership winner if it were not for a 3-try blitz by Penrith in 2023.
At least Mam can look forward to the awards night for The Frownlow Medal and The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame later this year.
Image: NuNa
The Frownlow Medal 