30-01-2025
NRL backflips on Reece Walsh decision as Ezra Mam has extra game added to ban
The NRL's decision to block Ezra Mam from using the All-Stars game for part of his nine-match suspension seems fair enough considering he's never actually played in the fixture. But it flies in the face of a precedent that was set with Brisbane Broncos teammate Reece Walsh back in 2022.
The NRL ruled this week that Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr can use the All-Stars game for part of their bans, meaning Mitchell is available to play in round one and Addo-Carr can return in round four. Mitchell was hit with a one-game ban after he was pictured standing over a white substance in Dubbo last year, while Addo-Carr was banned four games for a positive road-side drug test.
But the ruling means Mitchell won't miss any official NRL games, and Addo-Carr will only miss three. Conveniently, it means Mitchell is available for the grudge match between Souths and the Dolphins in round one, which marks Wayne Bennett's first game against his old club.
And Addo-Carr's first game is against his old club - the Bulldogs. The NRL came to their decision because Mitchell and Addo-Carr have regularly played for the Indigenous All-Stars against the Maori All-Stars and therefore would have been selected this year.
But their situation differs to that of Mam. Broncos fans would have been hoping the Mitchell and Addo-Carr ruling would mean Mam could also use the All-Stars game as one of the nine he'll miss due to his suspension, meaning he could return in round 9 rather than round 10.
But the NRL has deemed that because Mam has never played for the Indigenous All-Stars before, he can't. It effectively adds an extra game into Mam's ban (from nine to 10). That seems a fair enough decision, but it's a complete reversal of a call that was made with Walsh three years ago.
Walsh is eligible to play for the Maori All-Stars, but despite never playing in the All-Stars fixture he was allowed to use it as part of a suspension he received while with the Warriors in 2022. It means Walsh was afforded different treatment to that of now-Brisbane teammate Mam.
Walsh and Mam's suspensions were both for off-field matters, and Mam will miss nine weeks after a car accident last year while unlicensed and with a drug in his system. He's also been blocked from playing in the Queensland Cup with one of the Broncos feeder teams during his ban.
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As for Mitchell and Addo-Carr, the NRL's decision has proven highly divisive. Rabbitohs legend Craig Coleman has described it as "great news for fans", but Broncos great Corey Parker isn't happy.
'Latrell Mitchell was suspended for bringing the game into disrepute,' he said on SEN radio. 'The NRL have allowed him to use the All-Stars game as his suspension. Is that sufficient? I don't think so.
'The Brisbane Broncos could use the All-Stars game for Ezra Mam. I don't think they will (because) the heat that would be brought on the Broncos wouldn't be good.
'If you bring the game into disrepute, you have to serve a suspension. It's as simple as that. If you're guilty of a high shot at club level, you should be suspended for club football. Your club is your employer and when Mitchell had those allegations, he brought his club (into disrepute).'
And former Wests Tigers player Joel Caine agrees, saying: 'You must serve your suspension in the competition that you're in. Every year, we have a player who isn't serving their suspension because they use it for when they play for their country or the All-Stars game. I'm against it big time.
'Joseph Suaalii after his hit in State of Origin Game 1 should've copped a ban for Games 2 and 3. He should've been allowed to play for the Sydney Roosters. The Roosters shouldn't have paid the price.'
