By Joel Gould
A contrite Ezra Mam, who feared the sack from Brisbane, is bracing for possible legal action against him personally after Uber driver Marcel Van Den Camp launched proceedings against his third-party insurer.
Broncos five-eighth Mam spoke for the first time on Thursday since he made a public apology at a December court appearance for his infamous car crash.
Mam, driving with cocaine in his system and without a licence, had a head-on collision on October 18 with an Uber-registered vehicle, injuring the driver, a female passenger and her young daughter.
Ezra Mam at Broncos training session in Brisbane on Thursday.Credit: AAP
He was fined $850 and disqualified from driving for six months. Mam was also suspended by the NRL until round 10 and fined $120,000 jointly by the NRL and Broncos.
Van Den Camp is suing Mam’s third-party insurer for compensation for his injury and income loss after a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
It is understood Mam faces the prospect of his third-party insurer then taking action against him if it can be proved the use of cocaine had caused the accident and his actions were outside the terms of his policy.
“When all that stuff happens … we will deal with it when it comes around,” Mam said of the prospect of legal action.
“Until then I am going to work on being the best version of myself for myself and the club.”
The scene of the crash.Credit: Nine News
Either way his actions will be a life-changing moment for the 22-year-old who thought his multi-million dollar contract would be ripped up.
“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried,” Mam said.
“I’m just grateful I did get the opportunity to keep going for the Brisbane Broncos and no doubt, I want to repay the Broncos for giving me a second chance. I think that’s just about growing now from this moment.
“The only way I can … gain respect is with my actions on and off the field from now on.
“I am truly sorry and I regret what I did. I remind myself every day that I was in the wrong but right now I am looking forward to getting on the right path and being a positive role model for future generations.”
Mam was criticised before his court appearance for failing to contact victims to apologise, but explained he was not permitted to do so. As soon as his case was over, he was on the phone.
“Leading up to the court case for legal reasons I wasn’t able to reach out to the victims, which was on my mind throughout the whole process,” he said.
“Once the court case was settled I reached out that day. I also wanted to show how sorry I was in person.
“I’ve reached out a couple of times to them to meet up. I don’t want to cramp their space or be too pushy. I just want to respect their boundaries and when the time is right and they get back to me we will go from there.”
Mam, who is now back training with the Broncos, spent time in a rehab facility after the incident and is now working once a week as a carpenter on a job site.
“There was a lot of emotions going through my head,” he said of his rehab experience.
“I had to keep quiet about it and wasn’t able to express myself and how sorry I was. I’ve done a lot of work on myself and that is one thing I am proud of.”
AAP
