Even an Ezra Mam masterclass could not spare the Brisbane Broncos. Some of the errors on show on Sunday have become all too familiar – so much talent, yet so many issues that appear fixable.
It was at this point last year, on the eve of the first Origin squad selections, when the Broncos’ season went up in flames. This latest 30-26 defeat to the St George-Illawarra Dragons, and the manner in which they succumbed, will have alarm bells ringing.
From the error count (13) to allowing a floored Kyle Flanagan to get to his feet and spread it wide for the match-winning try, the lack of urgency at times proved costly for a team about to endure their traditionally daunting State of Origin period.
The Dragons celebrate during their win against the Brisbane Broncos.Credit: NRL Photos
Even when Jacob Liddle scooped up the ball near his own line, Mam was the only genuine chaser, with his teammates giving up the pursuit.
For the 10 minutes that Jaydn Su’A spent in the sin bin, Brisbane hardly attacked the corridor he had vacated. Instead, their own errors led to Clint Gutherson and Liddle scoring.
This is a team who wiped the Sydney Roosters and ladder-leading Bulldogs off the park, yet they enter Origin with a 5-6 win-loss record.
Their support play has been lacking, ranked 14th in the league, and their completion rates of under 80 per cent are simply putting them under too much pressure; pressure they have been unable to respond to.
This is true even in another week in which their culture has been called into question following Martin Taupau’s departure from the club after liking a social media post condemning Maguire’s training philosophies.
“There are plenty of those things going on around the environment, so being able to handle those things plays a part. But we’ve also got a job to do, and that’s something the players are very aware of. We had a chance to claw our way back into the game, but we needed to be better in those patches.”
Broncos coach Michael Maguire
Mam’s comeback in vain
Embattled and maligned ever since he attracted national headlines for his involvement in a car crash with drugs in his system, Mam’s NRL comeback demonstrated the attacking class this Broncos side had been missing during his nine-game suspension.
Ezra Mam scores in his comeback for the Brisbane Broncos against the St George-Illawarra Dragons.Credit: NRL Photos
It took 17 minutes for Mam to stamp his attacking mark on the game, receiving the ball from the scrum and slicing through to put Gehamat Shibasaki over for the first points of the game.
Shortly after, Mam stifled an attacking kick, with his pressure on the chase earning a penalty to get them out of trouble. On that set, he sliced through traffic at close range to score.
Twice in the second half Brisbane forfeited their lead, and on each occasion, Mam got them back in the hunt – breaking through the line to set up Kotoni Staggs, before his lofted cutout ball for Jesse Arthars got them within four points.
Mam finished with a try, three try assists, two linebreaks, 112 running metres and five tackle busts.
“I thought Ezra was really good, he’s worked really hard, he came up with a couple of try assists and set up plenty of play for us. That combination will grow again with Reyno, so I saw some real positives out of that. I could actually hear the cheers coming through the glass, so it just goes to show what Ez has done for the place and everyone remembering that.”
Michael Maguire
Where is Brisbane’s towering rookie?
It’s a question that’s been posed ever since the club lost Thomas Flegler, Kurt Capewell and Keenan Palasia from their 2023 grand final side – do they have the engine room to remain a premiership contender outside of Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas?
Thus far, 2025 suggests not.
Between them, Haas and Carrigan combined for 358 running metres against the Dragons, and their absence – either for representative duties or any moments Maguire opts to rest and preserve them – will leave gaping holes in the Broncos’ pack.
So, where is Ben Te Kura?
Pat Carrigan runs the ball for the Brisbane Broncos against the St George-Illawarra Dragons.Credit: NRL Photos
The 20-year-old holds the prestigious title of being the tallest player in the NRL (206cm), and his hulking frame and ability to get his body height down to the line at close range are weapons.
In the Queensland Cup, he has missed just three tackles in seven games, while scoring four tries and making five linebreaks to go with 105 running metres an outing.
In contrast, Fletcher Baker, Corey Jensen and Kobe Hetherington all failed to pass 80 running metres on Sunday afternoon, and while there is no suggestion Te Kura would have changed these fortunes, surely his time beckons.
“He’s ready to fill that void, but I feel like the boys here have been playing well. He’ll be there during Origin I reckon.”
Payne Haas on Ben Te Kura
Final Origin auditions a success for Dragons duo
Valentine Holmes already appeared to be a certainty for a Maroons’ berth, but the strike centre still put in one final display of his credentials for the Dragons.
Running for 157 metres while making a linebreak and nine tackle busts against rival Kotoni Staggs, he will be expected to be named alongside Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as the state’s centre pairing.
Holmes’ fellow Dragon, Su’A, faces a greater battle to regain his Origin jumper, as he contends with Jeremiah Nanai, Beau Fermor, Kurt Capewell, and even typical middle forward Reuben Cotter, for a place in the backrow.
But aside from one brain fade – a professional foul on Billy Walters that earned him a stint in the sin bin – the 27-year-old did his case no harm, finishing with 126 running metres and 31 tackles.
“Val will stay back, I thought Jaydn Su’A was outstanding though. He had a good contribution, even though he got 10 minutes, and I thought that was a turning point in the game. I didn’t think it was the right decision, but it ended up being a really good one for us.”
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan
In sombre news, Dragons coach Shane Flanagan confirmed Dylan Egan may have suffered a ruptured ACL, with scans needed to confirm the worst in the coming days.
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