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Meninga weighs in on Mam and Fifita debate
Charles Goodsir • May 7th, 2025 2:16 pm
Rugby League immortal Mal Meninga has endorsed the Brisbane Broncos’ decision to stagger the return of five-eighth Ezra Mam through the Queensland Cup.
Mam has served his nine-week suspension imposed by the NRL for driving under the influence and without a licence in December 2024 and is now eligible for first grade selection.
However, Broncos coach Michael Maguire has decided to select Mam for the Souths Logan Magpies in the Queensland Cup. Meninga said it was a smart decision from the Broncos to delay the 22-year-old’s return to the NRL.
“Ezra has obviously proved himself at the elite level,” Meninga told SENQ Breakfast.
“He’s a great player but I think he is doing the right thing.
“If you have been a consistent first grader, of course you just want to jump back into the first team.
“It’s up to what the coach thinks and what he believes is good for the team.
“It would be good to have Ezra back because he’s an enthusiastic player and he has that high speed game.
“I reckon he plays just one game in the Queensland Cup and then he will come back.”
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds also backed Maguire’s decision to omit Mam from their clash against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
“He won’t play this week but he has worked extremely hard during the whole pre-season,” Reynolds told the media on Tuesday in a Broncos press conference.
“He’s been in a good mindspace for the last couple of weeks and has been supporting the team and getting out to every game.”
Brisbane travel to Accor Stadium on Friday to take on the Roosters as they look to bounce back from a poor defeat against Penrith at Magic Round.
Meanwhile, enigmatic Gold Coast Titans forward David Fifita has been not earnt a recall to the first grade side with the club confirming that the second rower is battling an ankle injury.
It was revealed that the reason for Fifita’s axing in Magic Round was a disagreement between him and coach Des Hasler over his positioning on the field.
“David’s ankle is obviously playing up,” Meninga added.
“He had off-season surgery on it and it hasn’t cleared up. He has to go back and see what’s the issue.
“It affects the way he plays and the way he is talked about.
“Fifita thinks he is best suited to the left side of the field but I think he’s been playing ok and particularly off the bench.
“He obviously wants to play left but it’s the ankle injury that has prevented him from playing (to his potential),”
The Titans take on the Knights on Friday night in Newcastle.
