Sport Confidential: Ezra Mam’s Grand Final Performance To Cause Salary Cap Problem For Broncos
The Broncos' pay cap might be thrown into disarray by Brisbane five-eighth Ezra Mam's amazing hat-trick in the NRL grand final.
After an 11-minute blitz against Penrith on Sunday night, Mam scored a spectacular hat trick that should have given the Broncos their first title since 2006.
Instead, despite having a 24-8 lead, the Broncos botched it and Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary stole the Clive Churchill Medal from of Mam's neck for leading the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.
Brisbane's lost opportunity at premiership glory hit Mam, 20, hard, and he sought the consolation of his family in the team's dressing room following the 26-24 setback.
He only made just $300,000 this season, far less than his competitors like Melbourne's Cameron Munster ($1.25 million), but his efforts were recognized when he was named Dally M five-eighth of the year.
Mam has no plans to leave Brisbane anytime soon, especially since he just acquired a house in the Red Hill neighborhood, which is close to Ipswich.
Despite a stellar 2023 season, the Broncos are in a salary cap bind that could affect head coach Kevin Walters's roster decisions.
They had already suffered the loss of Tom Flegler, Herbie Farnworth, and the greatly improved prop Keenan Palasia, who went to the Dolphins.
On November 1, a number of notable Broncos players will be eligible for free agency, the most notable of which is rising No. 6 Mam.
At the conclusion of the 2024 season, the contracts of other key players, including the captain Adam Reynolds, the hooker Billy Walters, and the backrowers Jordan Riki, Kurt Capewell, and Brendan Piakura, will expire.
The Broncos will need to break out the checkbook if they want to keep fullback Reece Walsh, who is on course to become the highest-paid player in the game when his current contract expires in the year 2025.
The Broncos would prefer to keep all of its players, but they know that some of them, like Farnworth and Flegler, will leave for more financially stable opponents.
Mam is the Broncos' top free agent target, and with the upcoming massive rises to the salary cap courtesy to a new CBA, he may approach the $1 million per season wage threshold in the later phases of his next contract.
The closing heroics by Mam were lauded by Reynolds.
"It was a very special occasion," he remarked.
We fell in love with him the moment he stepped foot on our field and began playing football.
We are losing by a wider margin now that he is not on the team. He was, without a doubt, our most valuable player.
"He made the most of the occasion and played soccer according to his abilities. He ran the ball and opened a gap between them.
It's a damn shame that we weren't able to get the job done for him.
The most recent premiership five-eighth for Brisbane Darren Lockyer praised Mam for her great performance despite the fact that her team did not win.
"It was unbelievable," he remarked.
"To score a hat trick in the championship game and come up short... I can't remember the last time that occurred.
In other words, he had to be patient. He made an astute initial attempt.
What happened after halftime was an unbelievable sequence of play. That was a major deal for Ezra.
He played good defensively and scored some nice tries on his own.
"He probably had the medal around his neck until the very last five minutes."
EXPANSION WAR EXPLODES
Shane Richardson, leader of the Firehawks' expansion campaign, recently made headlines when he claimed the Dolphins stole his team's playbook and that the Broncos deserved to win 30 consecutive championships.
The now-renamed Brisbane Tigers are making serious moves to enter the National Rugby League in 2026. They formerly competed as the Easts.
In former South Sydney chief Richardson, they have recruited one of the NRL's most seasoned administrators to spearhead their application.
Richardson has made a convincing case for the inclusion of the Tigers, formerly known as the Brisbane Firehawks and competing with the Dolphins and Jets to become the NRL's 17th team.
Richardson recently made some shocking assertions on James Graham's podcast, The Bye Round.
According to him, the organization has been around for 90 years and offers programs for kids as young as six.
"We own our own land, we have no debt, our assets are worth $80 million to $90 million and we have $26 million in the bank.
Although I believe our advertising strategy was superior to the Redcliffe side's, we came in second place in the most recent bid.
Because I believe most of it was stolen, I know it was better.
Richardson stated Brisbane could support a third NRL club and dismissed the arguments for teams in Perth, Cairns/PNG, New Zealand, and the return of the North Sydney Bears.
He said the Broncos were always opposed to growth and that, given their dominance in Queensland, they should have won many more NRL championships.
According to Richardson, "I think this is going to cannibalise Brisbane" was a major concern when the NRL announced a 17th team.
"Brisbane also brought that up. They were never on board with it. They were completely in charge in Brisbane.
They've had the luckiest streak ever. For the past 30 years, they should have had annual premieres.
They ruled all of Queensland and continue to rule all of south-eastern Queensland to this day.
DCE’S STUNNING COMMITMENT
The loss of Maroons captain and consummate sportsman Daly Cherry-Evans is a boon for the Kangaroos.
For the 2019 Pacific Championships, Cherry-Evans will wear the No. 7 jersey for Australia again after losing it to Penrith's golden boy Nathan Cleary at last year's World Cup.
Cleary's stunning performance in the grand final resulted in a knee injury, and as a result, Cronulla's Nicho Hynes has been added to the Test team in his place.
As a reserve halfback, Cherry-Evans was included in the 21-man Kangaroos team, but he is now expected to start.
Even if he had to postpone a family vacation at the end of the season, he will still be well-prepared for the competition.
Cherry-Evans played his last game for Manly on September 1, but he has continued to train hard in case he is called up to the Kangaroos for the rest of the season.
On Tuesday, he was added to the roster, but he had no idea that Cleary might be hurt.
Cherry-Evans will be able to play in his 19th Test for the Kangaroos next Saturday against Samoa in Townsville.
This level of commitment is what has allowed 'DCE' to play in 305 NRL games and still be a quality player at the age of 34.
BRONCO’S KIWIS DREAM SHATTERED
Jordan Riki, a backrower for the Broncos, was denied his first New Zealand national team jersey due to a shoulder injury he suffered during Brisbane's run to the grand final.
The New Zealand cricket team released their 21-man selection for the forthcoming Pacific Championships Test tournament on Thursday, but Riki's name was noticeably absent.
In 2023, the Broncos' grand final season, the forward played in all 22 games.
However, a shoulder ailment that may require surgery kept him from being considered for the New Zealand national team.
This week, Riki had scans done and is now awaiting the specialist's verdict. He faced the rest of the NRL season bravely despite his injury.
MAROONS ROCK SOLID
The Maroons have just signed up rising mentor Tahnee Norris for the women's squad, following on the heels of landing Billy Slater as Queensland coach for the next three years.
After signing a contract extension, Norris will continue to lead the Queensland women's Origin team for the next two years.
The Blues are in disarray after the resignation of Brad Fittler, but the Maroons have staffed their coaching staff with confidence.
On Friday, Norris' reappointment will be officially approved by the Queensland Rugby League, ensuring her continued leadership for the next five years.
"I think that is now feeding into Origin," Norris said. "We've set the foundations through the pathways program over the past few years, which is pleasing."
This jersey reeks of dedication and determination.
As one player put it, "I just love seeing the girls grow, and being in a position to help them understand what it means to wear the maroon colours, and get the best out of them both on and off the field."
Ben Ikin, the current CEO of QRL, has signed both Slater and Norris to new contracts since taking over the role.
In her first three years with the company, Tahnee has accomplished a lot.
Maroons, with many promising youngsters following in her footsteps to play in the NRLW and for their state in State of Origin, Ikin added.
It's obvious that Tahnee loves the game and has a firm grasp of the Maroons' ethos.
"Queensland athletes relate to her and support her as a coach. They're fantastic traits to have, and they put the Origin program in excellent shape for the future.
The BMD Women's Premiership will grow as well, with the addition of the Sunshine Coast and Western Clydesdales in 2019 thanks to the QRL.
The QRL plans to grow by adding two more teams in 2025 (the Northern Pride and the Ipswich Jets) and two more the following year (2026) (the Townsville Blackhawks and the Redcliffe Dolphins).
BILLY LOSES KEY STAFF
For the 2019 Origin series, Billy Slater and the Maroons will be short one of their assistant coaches.
South Sydney's club obligations have become Andrew Croll's priority, thus he has resigned as head of performance.
Croll has agreed to step down from his midseason role with the Maroons as part of a two-year contract renewal with the Rabbitohs.