Latest news with #Mam
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Have you watched him? Maroons defend Mam's selection
Billy Slater has defended picking Ezra Mam for State of Origin just three games after his return from a drug-driving ban, adamant the Brisbane star will add to Queensland's squad. Mam is expected to be rolled out as 18th man for next Wednesday's must-win clash at Optus Stadium in Perth, after being named in Slater's 20-man squad. The uncapped Maroon will undergo scans on his knee before entering camp on Monday, after copping a knock in the Broncos' win over Gold Coast on Saturday night. Queensland are confident he will be fit to line up, with Slater describing the injury as a "bump" when he unveiled his squad on Monday morning. It was always going to be contentious, with Slater dropping captain Daly Cherry-Evans and picking Tom Dearden to wear the No.7 jersey. But Mam's selection has added to the headlines. The Brisbane five-eighth copped a nine-match ban for crashing a car while driving unlicensed and with drugs in his system last October. Three occupants of the Uber he collided with were injured, including a woman and her young daughter. Mam was fined $120,000 by the NRL and subsequently attended a rehabilitation facility and worked on a job site before returning to pre-season training in January. Slater said he had not had a chance to sense how remorseful Mam was, having only spoken to the 22-year-old on Sunday night to inform him of his selection. "He's the right person for that position right now," Slater said. "I am sure people will have their speculation around all the people selected. That is OK, everyone is entitled to their opinion. "He has been doing a great job since he returned. We feel the squad will benefit from him being here." Mam has played three NRL games since his return to the playing arena and was booed repeatedly by the Brookvale Oval crowd in the recent 34-6 loss to Manly. But Slater said there was no question over whether the Indigenous star had done enough to prove his worth to the Maroons squad. "Have you watched the couple of games back? He has been pretty good, I don't think he has skipped a beat," Slater said. "By all reports he has been doing a lot of training through the first half of the year while he was sitting out. "He has been in this position before and been part of this squad before. I am sure he will take his opportunity if presented." On one level Mam's inclusion should come as no surprise. After his three-try display in the 2023 grand final he was brought into his first pre-season Maroons camp in February of 2024. Slater then invited him into camp ahead of game one of the 2024 Origin series as a player identified as a potential long-term in Queensland player. Billy Slater has defended picking Ezra Mam for State of Origin just three games after his return from a drug-driving ban, adamant the Brisbane star will add to Queensland's squad. Mam is expected to be rolled out as 18th man for next Wednesday's must-win clash at Optus Stadium in Perth, after being named in Slater's 20-man squad. The uncapped Maroon will undergo scans on his knee before entering camp on Monday, after copping a knock in the Broncos' win over Gold Coast on Saturday night. Queensland are confident he will be fit to line up, with Slater describing the injury as a "bump" when he unveiled his squad on Monday morning. It was always going to be contentious, with Slater dropping captain Daly Cherry-Evans and picking Tom Dearden to wear the No.7 jersey. But Mam's selection has added to the headlines. The Brisbane five-eighth copped a nine-match ban for crashing a car while driving unlicensed and with drugs in his system last October. Three occupants of the Uber he collided with were injured, including a woman and her young daughter. Mam was fined $120,000 by the NRL and subsequently attended a rehabilitation facility and worked on a job site before returning to pre-season training in January. Slater said he had not had a chance to sense how remorseful Mam was, having only spoken to the 22-year-old on Sunday night to inform him of his selection. "He's the right person for that position right now," Slater said. "I am sure people will have their speculation around all the people selected. That is OK, everyone is entitled to their opinion. "He has been doing a great job since he returned. We feel the squad will benefit from him being here." Mam has played three NRL games since his return to the playing arena and was booed repeatedly by the Brookvale Oval crowd in the recent 34-6 loss to Manly. But Slater said there was no question over whether the Indigenous star had done enough to prove his worth to the Maroons squad. "Have you watched the couple of games back? He has been pretty good, I don't think he has skipped a beat," Slater said. "By all reports he has been doing a lot of training through the first half of the year while he was sitting out. "He has been in this position before and been part of this squad before. I am sure he will take his opportunity if presented." On one level Mam's inclusion should come as no surprise. After his three-try display in the 2023 grand final he was brought into his first pre-season Maroons camp in February of 2024. Slater then invited him into camp ahead of game one of the 2024 Origin series as a player identified as a potential long-term in Queensland player. Billy Slater has defended picking Ezra Mam for State of Origin just three games after his return from a drug-driving ban, adamant the Brisbane star will add to Queensland's squad. Mam is expected to be rolled out as 18th man for next Wednesday's must-win clash at Optus Stadium in Perth, after being named in Slater's 20-man squad. The uncapped Maroon will undergo scans on his knee before entering camp on Monday, after copping a knock in the Broncos' win over Gold Coast on Saturday night. Queensland are confident he will be fit to line up, with Slater describing the injury as a "bump" when he unveiled his squad on Monday morning. It was always going to be contentious, with Slater dropping captain Daly Cherry-Evans and picking Tom Dearden to wear the No.7 jersey. But Mam's selection has added to the headlines. The Brisbane five-eighth copped a nine-match ban for crashing a car while driving unlicensed and with drugs in his system last October. Three occupants of the Uber he collided with were injured, including a woman and her young daughter. Mam was fined $120,000 by the NRL and subsequently attended a rehabilitation facility and worked on a job site before returning to pre-season training in January. Slater said he had not had a chance to sense how remorseful Mam was, having only spoken to the 22-year-old on Sunday night to inform him of his selection. "He's the right person for that position right now," Slater said. "I am sure people will have their speculation around all the people selected. That is OK, everyone is entitled to their opinion. "He has been doing a great job since he returned. We feel the squad will benefit from him being here." Mam has played three NRL games since his return to the playing arena and was booed repeatedly by the Brookvale Oval crowd in the recent 34-6 loss to Manly. But Slater said there was no question over whether the Indigenous star had done enough to prove his worth to the Maroons squad. "Have you watched the couple of games back? He has been pretty good, I don't think he has skipped a beat," Slater said. "By all reports he has been doing a lot of training through the first half of the year while he was sitting out. "He has been in this position before and been part of this squad before. I am sure he will take his opportunity if presented." On one level Mam's inclusion should come as no surprise. After his three-try display in the 2023 grand final he was brought into his first pre-season Maroons camp in February of 2024. Slater then invited him into camp ahead of game one of the 2024 Origin series as a player identified as a potential long-term in Queensland player.
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Sport
- Sky News AU
Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans brutally axed with controversial star Ezra Mam making squad ahead of Origin 2
Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans' State of Origin career could be all but over after he received the axe from coach Billy Slater ahead of must win Game 2 in Perth. Replacing the long-serving Manly Sea Eagles halfback will be young gun Tom Dearden, it was revealed on Monday. The Cowboys star looks to partner alongside Melbourne Storm five eighth Cameron Munster while Ezra Mam has also been given the call to be a part of an extended squad, following three NRL games after his comeback from a controversial drug-driving ban. Following a tough Game 1 18-6 loss to New South Wales in their own backyard at Suncorp Stadium, Slater looks to have pulled the trigger early in a desperate bid to turn things around with a must needed win at Optus Stadium, Perth, on Wednesday, June 18. The 41-year-old coach said Cherry-Evans took the decision with great character and respect following a phone call conversation. 'You won't hear a negative word from me about Daly Cherry-Evans. What he has done and what he's given this footy team, that will be with all Queenslanders and with Daly for the rest of his life,' he told media. 'Obviously Daly wanted to play, and he was disappointed … but he took the news with great character and great respect, we had a good conversation. We have a great relationship.' The 36-year-old captain will be replaced by 24-year-old Dearden who has been sighted as the 'right person' to lead the team into a new era of Queensland Origin football. 'I don't take any decision lightly … we just feel Tom is the right person for the number seven jersey right now,' Slater said. 'We feel Tom Dearden has earned the right to wear the jersey and we feel it's the right thing for the footy team." Slater insisted the young half will have the keys to unlock Queensland's outside backs, which was something the state didn't get right under Cherry-Evans. 'We want to play to our players' strengths,' he continued. 'There are some areas in Game 1 that we didn't get right, so changing the number seven jersey and personnel there, that's not going to fix everything. 'We need to look at game one and perform better.' Meanwhile, Mam was selected for the state's extended 20-man squad following his nine-match ban from a drug-driving incident. Mam is only three games back after he was banned for driving unlicensed after he collided into an Uber carrying three occupants at the time - 64-year-old driver Marcel Van Den Camp, a mother and her four-year-old daughter on October 18. The decision to select Mam will be sure to cause a divide amongst fans after he was recently booed during Brisbane's heavy defeat to the Sea Eagles last week. 'Should honestly be ashamed for picking Mam,' one fan wrote on X. 'Does my head in the rewards Ezra Mam gets after drug/drink driving, crashing into an innocent family and injuring them. Nine games stood down, three games back and into Origin,' another added. Slater has also confirmed he has dropped Gold Coast Titan Beau Fermor for veteran Kurt Capewell, with Raider's enforcer Corey Horsborough and Storm centre Jack Howarth also getting the call up. Broncos fullback Reece Walsh did not make the squad despite his impressive showing for his club side as they delivered a huge win over the Titans on Saturday night.
7NEWS
2 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Billy Slater defends Ezra Mam selection call weeks after returning from drug-driving ban
Billy Slater has defended picking Ezra Mam for State of Origin just three games after his return from a drug-driving ban, adamant the Brisbane star will add to Queensland's squad. Mam is expected to be rolled out as 18th man for next Wednesday's must-win clash at Optus Stadium in Perth, after being named in Slater's 20-man squad. The uncapped Maroon will undergo scans on his knee before entering camp on Monday, after copping a knock in the Broncos' win over Gold Coast on Saturday night. Queensland are confident he will be fit to line up, with Slater describing the injury as a 'bump' when he unveiled his squad on Monday morning. It was always going to be contentious, with Slater dropping captain Daly Cherry-Evans and picking Tom Dearden to wear the No.7 jersey. But Mam's selection has added to the headlines. The Brisbane five-eighth copped a nine-match ban for crashing a car while driving unlicensed and with drugs in his system last October. Three occupants of the Uber he collided with were injured, including a woman and her young daughter. Mam was fined $120,000 by the NRL and subsequently attended a rehabilitation facility and worked on a job site before returning to pre-season training in January. Slater said he had not had a chance to sense how remorseful Mam was, having only spoken to the 22-year-old on Sunday night to inform him of his selection. 'He's the right person for that position right now,' Slater said. 'I am sure people will have their speculation around all the people selected. That is OK, everyone is entitled to their opinion. 'He has been doing a great job since he returned. We feel the squad will benefit from him being here.' Mam has played three NRL games since his return to the playing arena and was booed repeatedly by the Brookvale Oval crowd in the recent 34-6 loss to Manly. But Slater said there was no doubt the Indigenous star had done enough to prove his worth to the Maroons squad, and put one question back on critics. 'Have you watched the couple of games back? He has been pretty good, I don't think he has skipped a beat,' Slater said. 'By all reports he has been doing a lot of training through the first half of the year while he was sitting out. 'He has been in this position before and been part of this squad before. I am sure he will take his opportunity if presented.' On one level Mam's inclusion should come as no surprise. After his three-try display in the 2023 grand final he was brought into his first pre-season Maroons camp in February of 2024. Slater then invited him into camp ahead of game one of the 2024 Origin series as a player identified as a potential long-term in Queensland player.
West Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Have you watched him? Maroons defend Mam's selection
Billy Slater has defended picking Ezra Mam for State of Origin just three games after his return from a drug-driving ban, adamant the Brisbane star will add to Queensland's squad. Mam is expected to be rolled out as 18th man for next Wednesday's must-win clash at Optus Stadium in Perth, after being named in Slater's 20-man squad. The uncapped Maroon will undergo scans on his knee before entering camp on Monday, after copping a knock in the Broncos' win over Gold Coast on Saturday night. Queensland are confident he will be fit to line up, with Slater describing the injury as a "bump" when he unveiled his squad on Monday morning. It was always going to be contentious, with Slater dropping captain Daly Cherry-Evans and picking Tom Dearden to wear the No.7 jersey. But Mam's selection has added to the headlines. The Brisbane five-eighth copped a nine-match ban for crashing a car while driving unlicensed and with drugs in his system last October. Three occupants of the Uber he collided with were injured, including a woman and her young daughter. Mam was fined $120,000 by the NRL and subsequently attended a rehabilitation facility and worked on a job site before returning to pre-season training in January. Slater said he had not had a chance to sense how remorseful Mam was, having only spoken to the 22-year-old on Sunday night to inform him of his selection. "He's the right person for that position right now," Slater said. "I am sure people will have their speculation around all the people selected. That is OK, everyone is entitled to their opinion. "He has been doing a great job since he returned. We feel the squad will benefit from him being here." Mam has played three NRL games since his return to the playing arena and was booed repeatedly by the Brookvale Oval crowd in the recent 34-6 loss to Manly. But Slater said there was no question over whether the Indigenous star had done enough to prove his worth to the Maroons squad. "Have you watched the couple of games back? He has been pretty good, I don't think he has skipped a beat," Slater said. "By all reports he has been doing a lot of training through the first half of the year while he was sitting out. "He has been in this position before and been part of this squad before. I am sure he will take his opportunity if presented." On one level Mam's inclusion should come as no surprise. After his three-try display in the 2023 grand final he was brought into his first pre-season Maroons camp in February of 2024. Slater then invited him into camp ahead of game one of the 2024 Origin series as a player identified as a potential long-term in Queensland player.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Have you watched him? Maroons defend Mam's selection
Billy Slater has defended picking Ezra Mam for State of Origin just three games after his return from a drug-driving ban, adamant the Brisbane star will add to Queensland's squad. Mam is expected to be rolled out as 18th man for next Wednesday's must-win clash at Optus Stadium in Perth, after being named in Slater's 20-man squad. The uncapped Maroon will undergo scans on his knee before entering camp on Monday, after copping a knock in the Broncos' win over Gold Coast on Saturday night. Queensland are confident he will be fit to line up, with Slater describing the injury as a "bump" when he unveiled his squad on Monday morning. It was always going to be contentious, with Slater dropping captain Daly Cherry-Evans and picking Tom Dearden to wear the No.7 jersey. But Mam's selection has added to the headlines. The Brisbane five-eighth copped a nine-match ban for crashing a car while driving unlicensed and with drugs in his system last October. Three occupants of the Uber he collided with were injured, including a woman and her young daughter. Mam was fined $120,000 by the NRL and subsequently attended a rehabilitation facility and worked on a job site before returning to pre-season training in January. Slater said he had not had a chance to sense how remorseful Mam was, having only spoken to the 22-year-old on Sunday night to inform him of his selection. "He's the right person for that position right now," Slater said. "I am sure people will have their speculation around all the people selected. That is OK, everyone is entitled to their opinion. "He has been doing a great job since he returned. We feel the squad will benefit from him being here." Mam has played three NRL games since his return to the playing arena and was booed repeatedly by the Brookvale Oval crowd in the recent 34-6 loss to Manly. But Slater said there was no question over whether the Indigenous star had done enough to prove his worth to the Maroons squad. "Have you watched the couple of games back? He has been pretty good, I don't think he has skipped a beat," Slater said. "By all reports he has been doing a lot of training through the first half of the year while he was sitting out. "He has been in this position before and been part of this squad before. I am sure he will take his opportunity if presented." On one level Mam's inclusion should come as no surprise. After his three-try display in the 2023 grand final he was brought into his first pre-season Maroons camp in February of 2024. Slater then invited him into camp ahead of game one of the 2024 Origin series as a player identified as a potential long-term in Queensland player.
