New Broncos coach Michael Maguire says it is too early to contemplate whether Ezra Mam will be sacked but insists the star five-eighth must own the actions that led to him allegedly driving drugged and unlicensed.
Mam allegedly failed a roadside drug test on Friday when a ute he was driving collided with a vehicle driven by an Uber driver. The driver, a female passenger and her daughter were all injured in the crash.
The 21-year-old has checked into a rehabilitation clinic to seek professional help. Maguire has spoken with him but will now go on a fact finding mission to get the full story.
Mam has not been charged by police, with the results of a secondary drug test still pending.
Maguire flew into Brisbane on Wednesday and straight into a media scrum where he was asked if Mam would be fired.
"I am not going to touch on that at the moment," Maguire said.
"I have got to go through everything and ... assess what is going on.
"I have only just landed but I will definitely find out how one of our players gets to that point.
"I have got to find out more about what the situation entails. I have spoken to him and it is more about the safety of everyone involved in the situation."
Maguire said redemption was possible for Mam, on one condition.
"I have been in the game a long time and I have seen many players go through many situations. You learn a lot of lessons in your life as young men," he said.
"I am not downgrading this situation but it is one where we really need to have a look at … how he ended up getting in that situation.
"People will make mistakes but they have also got to own them. That's the big thing, if he owns where he is at.
"His actions moving forward are very important. I know he is getting some help at the moment about where he is at. When he works through that I will get some time with him."
Maguire also acknowledged there was more to consider than just Mam from the incident with three members of the public traumatised by the crash.
"I empathise with that a hell of a lot," he said.
"The seriousness of the incident is huge. People get hurt in these situations.
"The people involved, we've got to care for them as well."
If Mam is not sacked the Broncos face the real prospect of the NRL suspending him for the start of the 2025 season..
"He's got to go through a process with police, the game and the (Broncos) itself," Maguire said.
"Wherever that lands, we'll move forward with what we have.
"I've got a squad. Success in a team is about a squad.
"It's going to be a process. It could take quite some time to get to where we want to get to."
