Broncos Selection Chaos: Maguire Keeps Mam Waiting as Hunt Injury Rocks Team Plans
Brisbane Broncos head coach Michael Maguire has declined to guarantee Ezra Mam a return to the halves next week, as the club navigates the aftermath of a disappointing second-half collapse against the Rabbitohs and a concerning injury to veteran Ben Hunt.
Hunt limped off late in the second half while chasing an Adam Reynolds kick, sparking fears about his availability for both the Broncos and the upcoming State of Origin series, with the opener looming on May 28. His absence could leave a sizeable void in Brisbane’s playmaking department, with Mam considered the most likely candidate to step in—provided he safely comes through Sunday’s Queensland Cup clash for Souths Logan.
Mam is only just returning from a lengthy nine-match suspension after a serious off-field incident involving a car crash while driving unlicensed and under the influence of drugs. The crash left the driver and two passengers in the other vehicle injured, raising questions about both his readiness and fitness, despite promising signs at training.
Originally, the Broncos had been planning to shift Hunt into the hooker role, paving the way for Mam to partner Reynolds in the halves. However, Hunt’s injury has forced Maguire to reconsider those plans.
Pressed on whether Mam would be rushed back into the NRL side, Maguire remained non-committal: “I’ll go through this game before we get to that,” he said. Reynolds echoed the sentiment, stressing that while Mam has been impressive at training, he still needs to make it through Sunday’s match.
For now, the bigger issue for the Broncos might be their dramatic fadeout against South Sydney. After leading 14-0 at halftime, they failed to replicate their first-half performance, leaving Maguire visibly frustrated. “We didn’t do what we did in the first half in the second half,” he admitted—another sign that personnel questions are only part of the problem facing the Broncos this week.
