Brisbane five-eighth Ezra Mam is set for a multi-million dollar payday after scoring three scintillating tries in his side's heartbreaking 26-24 NRL grand final loss to Penrith.
The 20-year-old, off contract at the end of 2024, is on a deal worth $250,000 a year but AAP has been told the Broncos intend to upgrade and extend him before November 1 to ensure Mam stays at the club long-term.
Steve Renouf, the only other Broncos player to have scored a hat-trick in a grand final - in the 1997 Super League title win over Cronulla - said Mam belonged at the Broncos.
"Ezra is our future in the halves. I'm sure the Broncos will keep him. To score three tries in a grand final was just incredible," Renouf told AAP.
"The way he burned their fullback (Dylan Edwards) with speed just doesn't happen.
"He's so quick and such a tough footballer, the little man."
Renouf was just as devastated as the players after the Broncos gave up a 24-8 lead to lose in the season finale.
"It is a different feeling when you (score three tries and) win but you could see how gutted Ezra was," Renouf said.
"He loves the Broncos. We are all hurting but the boys will be back. There's a great future ahead of them."
Mam was crestfallen in the dressing sheds but held his head high.
His third try, off a Reece Walsh bust, was something to savour after he'd blitzed the Panthers twice with lightning speed
"It was definitely a moment in the game I was proud of. It didn't mean much because we didn't get the win. Full credit to Penrith for showing class," Mam said on Sunday night.
"When I am on the footy field I feel free and being able to play with the boys we had tonight was a dream come true.
"We just couldn't get the fairytale end.
"We got a bit too complacent. You can't really do that against players like Nathan Cleary. We will take a lesson out of tonight.
"(After missing the finals) last year we took that hurt and turned it around this year and got to the GF. We will let this hurt us and be back next year."
Club legend Darren Lockyer, the last Bronco to win a title wearing the No.6, was in awe of Mam's performance.
"It was amazing," 2006 champion Lockyer said.
"To score a hat-trick in a grand final and lose; when was the last time that happened?
"He probably had the (Clive Churchill) medal around his neck until the last five minutes."
