November 13, 2024 • 9 mins
Ezra Mam Breaks His Silence: Should We Hold NRL Stars More Accountable For Their Actions?
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to the Robin and Kid podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
We are inviting you here to weigh in on Ezra Maam,
the young Bronco who has been in the news for
all the wrong reasons.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
He joined the Broncos age thirteen and was billed as
a star in the making.
Speaker 4 (00:19):
But tonight Ezra MAM's nerl future is hanging in the balance.
Thank you Sharon Cadella Network ten.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Yes, and the original story has now been upgraded because
the second drug test has happened and he has allegedly
tested positive for drug driving and has now been formally charged.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
That's a big deal. I mean, it's not that unexpected,
is it. Like we knew we were waiting for results
and that something was going to happen. Yeah, we are mate. Coreotes,
who works with us, is up in Darwin and out
of range. We've been talking to Tigs, his wife. We
were desperate to have him chat about this because he
knows Ezra and really cares about him.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, we spoke to him the day after the news
first came out.
Speaker 5 (01:05):
Whatever the decision's going to be from NURL Broncos, and
it's going to be a long road back. I kind
of see imagine a guy that will he'll have a
pretty hard stance, but I feel like he'll probably try
and do what he can to try and bring him back.
And to say how long that would be, I've got
no idea. You know, it could be three months, six months,
(01:25):
twelve too. You know, he's like, this is not something
that you can come back with, come back from really quickly.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Yeah, makes he mentioned Madge there, I mean, brand new
coach and this is his first major action and by
all reports, he's not the bloke to muck around with.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
So what do you think do you think the Broncos
should keep him? He's what twenty one?
Speaker 2 (01:43):
He's a kid. Yeah, he's twenty or twenty one. He's
got his whole career ahead of him, and it's hard
to save you. I mean, you make mistakes when your kids,
when you're young, and he is really a kid, I mean,
you do make mistakes. And so far, the way that
he's acted, he is taking full responsibility. Got to respect that. Okay.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
So my two questions are, if he leaves the Broncos,
if they take a strong standpoint on this, does that
mean he's free game for anyone else that's a problem.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yes, would mean that unless the NRL. There's two options.
The Broncos can drop him or the NRL can ban him,
and that's one of the I think that's what I
think will happen. I think the NRL will will say
that he can't play for a number of months anywhere, Yes, anywhere.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
So if the NRL made that decision, it would actually
save the Broncos from having to lose a great player.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
But their code of conduct is such that they really
shouldn't be supporting this.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if he got as much
as a year. Wow, because of if you look at
some of the history of the game, and not just
rugby league, but in AFL this year they have banned
Joel Smith, who's a player for Melbourne. I think he
is and he was. He's been given four years whoa
(02:58):
he was doing. Not only did he take cocaine he
tested positive on game day, but he also has been
accused of trafficking, like as in as he was texting
other players going I can get yoursel. That's so he got.
He's done, he's twenty eight, he's finished. The other like
if you go back to two thousand and six, Wendall Saylor,
(03:19):
who was of course of famous Queenslander. He got two
years banned from playing any sport.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Wow, well that's what happened to the swimmers. Yeah, Shana
Blaze who then came back and that was you know,
like lots of people are weighing in nat of wish
heart high. Hi, oh, how old are you now?
Speaker 6 (03:39):
I'm eleven years old.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
What do you think about Azra Mount?
Speaker 6 (03:43):
Oh he's a great player. I'm a big fan of him.
Yeah yeah, And I think it was about it of
him to take drugs while he was unlicensed. And I
think he should stay with the Broncos because he's a
good player, and he's his teammates a lot, and he
loves his team and wants to stay as a Queenslander
(04:08):
and he should have a chance with another chance was
the Broncos or five year extension?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Give him a chance to make it up and make
up for it, you say.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Yeah, very articulate, Well done.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Angie out of Rangeville. What are your thoughts?
Speaker 7 (04:23):
I have a nine year old son who plays rugby league,
so what example is he setting? At the end of
the day, my son wants to play for the Broncos
and you know, I hope that he would make it.
But at the same time, is it just that, Hey,
we can go and do what we want when we
want and get away with it and we'll copy twelve
(04:43):
week band? What example is that setting?
Speaker 4 (04:46):
And you're angry, right, I don't like it.
Speaker 7 (04:50):
I don't think it's the right thing to do, and
I don't think it's setting the right example for our
younger players. So they can just get away with it.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
He should be drop together.
Speaker 7 (05:03):
Well, he knew what he was getting into when he
decided to take it. There's a consequence for an action.
What are we teaching our children if you do something wrong,
there's a consequence for that. And you're right, because he's
an adult, he should get away with it. No, there's
a consequence for an action.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
Well, and also, Angie, you know in other careers we
possibly would go yeah, we wouldn't be having this conversation,
and that is that is one of the issues that
the NRL have is that they seem to be quite
light on appalling behavior. Yes, because it's a sports star
and we love them. Thank you so much, Angie, I
love your passionate Nicole of Wakeley. What do you reckon?
Speaker 7 (05:40):
Ah?
Speaker 8 (05:40):
Yeah, Hi, guys, how are you good?
Speaker 7 (05:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (05:43):
Look, look, I do hope that he gets the help
that he deserves. But I think as any other person
in the normal world who doesn't isn't an NRL player,
if they were driving a vehicle unlicensed and on drugs,
they would be fired on the spot from their employer,
I think, especially if I were in a company car.
And I just think that sometimes these young Bronco players
think that they're above the law and they can do
(06:05):
what they want and there's no consequences. And I think
that there needs to be a stand and showing that
if you're an n RL player and you do the
wrong thing, you lose your job, just like everyone else.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
I mean, and our contracts state that if we break
the law in any way, shape or form, we are out.
Tanya of evanden Park, what do you think.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Hi HOI yeah, I think it's time for the NRL
and the football teams to sort of make this the
time to change things for their players.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Right how so so use him as an example?
Speaker 7 (06:40):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Like not like I'm not sure, Like it's up to
them where they stand with him at the moment, whether
they ban him for a year. He gets drug tested
every week and then maybe he could do community service,
get out there the kids that love him so much,
show how remorseful he is and that he's done the
wrong thing. He could have killed someone in that accident,
(07:02):
and then this would be a totally different story, wouldn't it.
Speaker 6 (07:04):
Though?
Speaker 4 (07:05):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
It's interesting though, like when you think about leniency and
things like that, Like famously, the AFL swept well allegedly
swept a lot of the Ben cousins of drug issues
under the carpet for a long time, gave him second
chances that no one knew about. Yeah, did not work
out well for Ben's life.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
No, it did not, Oh, anonymous, but a professional athlete? Hello,
what do you think?
Speaker 5 (07:26):
Hello?
Speaker 1 (07:27):
How are you guys going?
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Good?
Speaker 5 (07:28):
Mate?
Speaker 1 (07:29):
I think the big issue here, from what I see,
is just double standards across different sporting codes. You see
someone like SHANEA Jack who copped a band for taking
a performance enhancing substance and she was gone for multiple years.
Didn't hurt anyone necessarily, you know, it never caused a
(07:51):
big crash, wasn't in the company car as mentioned before. Yeah,
and then you get someone like an NRL player and
there's you know, there's been multiple of them in recent weeks,
there's no denying that who consistently think that they can
get away with taking drugs and these athletes need to
(08:11):
abide by the sporting codes, they need to abide by
the doping standards and party drugs are all covered under that.
So this is where the NRL is continually protecting their players,
and this is where the Australian Antidoping Agency needs to
step in and say hold on, this isn't right. You
(08:34):
guys can't just have your own rules for your own players.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Can I ask you?
Speaker 4 (08:38):
You used to swimmer as an example, if it had
been Ian Thorpe at the height of his career, it
wouldn't have made any difference, would it in terms of
the swimming idea or something like? Even athletics too, I
think is exactly the same. It doesn't matter who the player.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Or the as.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
You get a number, you don't get a name, So
a testing procol will just be you'll be number six
thousand and four. There's no name to that, and then
those results would then go through till the governing bodies
and they'll be like this app and then they'll pair
up a number with a name and then they'll go code.
(09:15):
So Japan thought took an illicted drug throughout his career.
He could be facing two to four years of ban
without you know, without question.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Yeah, it doesn't matter who you are.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
It doesn't matter who you are, and of course he didn't,
but you are great. I don't know who you are,
but we need your numbodies.
Speaker 8 (09:37):
Robin on Brisbane's
You're listening to the Robin and Kid podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
We are inviting you here to weigh in on Ezra Maam,
the young Bronco who has been in the news for
all the wrong reasons.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
He joined the Broncos age thirteen and was billed as
a star in the making.
Speaker 4 (00:19):
But tonight Ezra MAM's nerl future is hanging in the balance.
Thank you Sharon Cadella Network ten.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Yes, and the original story has now been upgraded because
the second drug test has happened and he has allegedly
tested positive for drug driving and has now been formally charged.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
That's a big deal. I mean, it's not that unexpected,
is it. Like we knew we were waiting for results
and that something was going to happen. Yeah, we are mate. Coreotes,
who works with us, is up in Darwin and out
of range. We've been talking to Tigs, his wife. We
were desperate to have him chat about this because he
knows Ezra and really cares about him.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, we spoke to him the day after the news
first came out.
Speaker 5 (01:05):
Whatever the decision's going to be from NURL Broncos, and
it's going to be a long road back. I kind
of see imagine a guy that will he'll have a
pretty hard stance, but I feel like he'll probably try
and do what he can to try and bring him back.
And to say how long that would be, I've got
no idea. You know, it could be three months, six months,
(01:25):
twelve too. You know, he's like, this is not something
that you can come back with, come back from really quickly.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Yeah, makes he mentioned Madge there, I mean, brand new
coach and this is his first major action and by
all reports, he's not the bloke to muck around with.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
So what do you think do you think the Broncos
should keep him? He's what twenty one?
Speaker 2 (01:43):
He's a kid. Yeah, he's twenty or twenty one. He's
got his whole career ahead of him, and it's hard
to save you. I mean, you make mistakes when your kids,
when you're young, and he is really a kid, I mean,
you do make mistakes. And so far, the way that
he's acted, he is taking full responsibility. Got to respect that. Okay.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
So my two questions are, if he leaves the Broncos,
if they take a strong standpoint on this, does that
mean he's free game for anyone else that's a problem.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yes, would mean that unless the NRL. There's two options.
The Broncos can drop him or the NRL can ban him,
and that's one of the I think that's what I
think will happen. I think the NRL will will say
that he can't play for a number of months anywhere, Yes, anywhere.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
So if the NRL made that decision, it would actually
save the Broncos from having to lose a great player.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
But their code of conduct is such that they really
shouldn't be supporting this.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if he got as much
as a year. Wow, because of if you look at
some of the history of the game, and not just
rugby league, but in AFL this year they have banned
Joel Smith, who's a player for Melbourne. I think he
is and he was. He's been given four years whoa
(02:58):
he was doing. Not only did he take cocaine he
tested positive on game day, but he also has been
accused of trafficking, like as in as he was texting
other players going I can get yoursel. That's so he got.
He's done, he's twenty eight, he's finished. The other like
if you go back to two thousand and six, Wendall Saylor,
(03:19):
who was of course of famous Queenslander. He got two
years banned from playing any sport.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Wow, well that's what happened to the swimmers. Yeah, Shana
Blaze who then came back and that was you know,
like lots of people are weighing in nat of wish
heart high. Hi, oh, how old are you now?
Speaker 6 (03:39):
I'm eleven years old.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
What do you think about Azra Mount?
Speaker 6 (03:43):
Oh he's a great player. I'm a big fan of him.
Yeah yeah, And I think it was about it of
him to take drugs while he was unlicensed. And I
think he should stay with the Broncos because he's a
good player, and he's his teammates a lot, and he
loves his team and wants to stay as a Queenslander
(04:08):
and he should have a chance with another chance was
the Broncos or five year extension?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Give him a chance to make it up and make
up for it, you say.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Yeah, very articulate, Well done.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Angie out of Rangeville. What are your thoughts?
Speaker 7 (04:23):
I have a nine year old son who plays rugby league,
so what example is he setting? At the end of
the day, my son wants to play for the Broncos
and you know, I hope that he would make it.
But at the same time, is it just that, Hey,
we can go and do what we want when we
want and get away with it and we'll copy twelve
(04:43):
week band? What example is that setting?
Speaker 4 (04:46):
And you're angry, right, I don't like it.
Speaker 7 (04:50):
I don't think it's the right thing to do, and
I don't think it's setting the right example for our
younger players. So they can just get away with it.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
He should be drop together.
Speaker 7 (05:03):
Well, he knew what he was getting into when he
decided to take it. There's a consequence for an action.
What are we teaching our children if you do something wrong,
there's a consequence for that. And you're right, because he's
an adult, he should get away with it. No, there's
a consequence for an action.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
Well, and also, Angie, you know in other careers we
possibly would go yeah, we wouldn't be having this conversation,
and that is that is one of the issues that
the NRL have is that they seem to be quite
light on appalling behavior. Yes, because it's a sports star
and we love them. Thank you so much, Angie, I
love your passionate Nicole of Wakeley. What do you reckon?
Speaker 7 (05:40):
Ah?
Speaker 8 (05:40):
Yeah, Hi, guys, how are you good?
Speaker 7 (05:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (05:43):
Look, look, I do hope that he gets the help
that he deserves. But I think as any other person
in the normal world who doesn't isn't an NRL player,
if they were driving a vehicle unlicensed and on drugs,
they would be fired on the spot from their employer,
I think, especially if I were in a company car.
And I just think that sometimes these young Bronco players
think that they're above the law and they can do
(06:05):
what they want and there's no consequences. And I think
that there needs to be a stand and showing that
if you're an n RL player and you do the
wrong thing, you lose your job, just like everyone else.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
I mean, and our contracts state that if we break
the law in any way, shape or form, we are out.
Tanya of evanden Park, what do you think.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Hi HOI yeah, I think it's time for the NRL
and the football teams to sort of make this the
time to change things for their players.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Right how so so use him as an example?
Speaker 7 (06:40):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Like not like I'm not sure, Like it's up to
them where they stand with him at the moment, whether
they ban him for a year. He gets drug tested
every week and then maybe he could do community service,
get out there the kids that love him so much,
show how remorseful he is and that he's done the
wrong thing. He could have killed someone in that accident,
(07:02):
and then this would be a totally different story, wouldn't it.
Speaker 6 (07:04):
Though?
Speaker 4 (07:05):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
It's interesting though, like when you think about leniency and
things like that, Like famously, the AFL swept well allegedly
swept a lot of the Ben cousins of drug issues
under the carpet for a long time, gave him second
chances that no one knew about. Yeah, did not work
out well for Ben's life.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
No, it did not, Oh, anonymous, but a professional athlete? Hello,
what do you think?
Speaker 5 (07:26):
Hello?
Speaker 1 (07:27):
How are you guys going?
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Good?
Speaker 5 (07:28):
Mate?
Speaker 1 (07:29):
I think the big issue here, from what I see,
is just double standards across different sporting codes. You see
someone like SHANEA Jack who copped a band for taking
a performance enhancing substance and she was gone for multiple years.
Didn't hurt anyone necessarily, you know, it never caused a
(07:51):
big crash, wasn't in the company car as mentioned before. Yeah,
and then you get someone like an NRL player and
there's you know, there's been multiple of them in recent weeks,
there's no denying that who consistently think that they can
get away with taking drugs and these athletes need to
(08:11):
abide by the sporting codes, they need to abide by
the doping standards and party drugs are all covered under that.
So this is where the NRL is continually protecting their players,
and this is where the Australian Antidoping Agency needs to
step in and say hold on, this isn't right. You
(08:34):
guys can't just have your own rules for your own players.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Can I ask you?
Speaker 4 (08:38):
You used to swimmer as an example, if it had
been Ian Thorpe at the height of his career, it
wouldn't have made any difference, would it in terms of
the swimming idea or something like? Even athletics too, I
think is exactly the same. It doesn't matter who the player.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Or the as.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
You get a number, you don't get a name, So
a testing procol will just be you'll be number six
thousand and four. There's no name to that, and then
those results would then go through till the governing bodies
and they'll be like this app and then they'll pair
up a number with a name and then they'll go code.
(09:15):
So Japan thought took an illicted drug throughout his career.
He could be facing two to four years of ban
without you know, without question.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Yeah, it doesn't matter who you are.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
It doesn't matter who you are, and of course he didn't,
but you are great. I don't know who you are,
but we need your numbodies.
Speaker 8 (09:37):
Robin on Brisbane's
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