In a stunning rebuke, Brisbane Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy has ordered his players to “grow up” as the embattled NRL club reels from a series of damaging off-field incidents. The strongly-worded directive comes amid uncertainty surrounding the future of star five-eighth Ezra Mam, who is awaiting the results of a secondary drug test following a head-on car crash.
A Year from Hell
Speaking candidly on Monday, Donaghy delivered a scathing assessment of the Broncos’ annus horribilis, suggesting deep-seated leadership and cultural issues within the playing group. “I’ve seen commentary previously about this being a line-in-the-sand moment,” he told 4BC radio. “I think for this group it’s a grow-up moment.”
The Broncos’ on-field woes, which saw them plummet to 12th on the ladder and cost coach Kevin Walters his job, have been compounded by a spate of unsavory incidents away from the paddock. Co-captains Pat Carrigan and Adam Reynolds’ pre-season scuffle outside a bar set an ominous tone, while integrity unit investigations and Mam’s latest indiscretion have only added fuel to the fire.
Mam’s Fate Hangs in the Balance
Probed on whether Mam had played his last game for the club, Donaghy was non-committal. “We haven’t had a discussion internally in depth,” he admitted. “We don’t have all the facts. We want to ensure that we’ve got all the information so we can make the right decision for us.”
Police allege the 21-year-old was driving without a license at the time of the crash. Donaghy confirmed Mam was relieved the occupants of the other vehicle escaped serious injury, and had expressed remorse to the club. However, he pulled no punches in his assessment of the gravity of the situation.
“We’re very disappointed to find ourselves in a position like this,” Donaghy lamented. “Ezra is a young man, he’s a 21-year-old. Unfortunately, in this industry, you need to grow up quickly. That’s the price of entry. It’s a very privileged role.”
Culture Change on the Horizon
With renowned disciplinarian Michael Maguire set to take the coaching reins on Wednesday, change is afoot at Red Hill. However, Donaghy stressed that the onus for driving cultural transformation would extend beyond the new mentor.
“I’m not going to shy away from the fact I do believe we’ve got some cultural challenges,” he conceded. “Part of it is back to leadership. It’s an area I’ve highlighted we need to invest in.”
While acknowledging that rectifying the club’s issues would not happen overnight, Donaghy pledged to tackle them head-on. “We know that is going to take a lot of hard work,” he said. “We might not fix it overnight, but we will certainly be very deliberate about designing it.”
As the Broncos brace for a defining off-season, all eyes will be on Mam and his teammates to heed their CEO’s call to arms. With the club’s reputation on the line and a new era dawning, the time for excuses has passed. For Brisbane, the road to redemption starts now.
The Broncos’ on-field woes, which saw them plummet to 12th on the ladder and cost coach Kevin Walters his job, have been compounded by a spate of unsavory incidents away from the paddock. Co-captains Pat Carrigan and Adam Reynolds’ pre-season scuffle outside a bar set an ominous tone, while integrity unit investigations and Mam’s latest indiscretion have only added fuel to the fire.
Mam’s Fate Hangs in the Balance
Probed on whether Mam had played his last game for the club, Donaghy was non-committal. “We haven’t had a discussion internally in depth,” he admitted. “We don’t have all the facts. We want to ensure that we’ve got all the information so we can make the right decision for us.”
Police allege the 21-year-old was driving without a license at the time of the crash. Donaghy confirmed Mam was relieved the occupants of the other vehicle escaped serious injury, and had expressed remorse to the club. However, he pulled no punches in his assessment of the gravity of the situation.
“We’re very disappointed to find ourselves in a position like this,” Donaghy lamented. “Ezra is a young man, he’s a 21-year-old. Unfortunately, in this industry, you need to grow up quickly. That’s the price of entry. It’s a very privileged role.”
Culture Change on the Horizon
With renowned disciplinarian Michael Maguire set to take the coaching reins on Wednesday, change is afoot at Red Hill. However, Donaghy stressed that the onus for driving cultural transformation would extend beyond the new mentor.
“I’m not going to shy away from the fact I do believe we’ve got some cultural challenges,” he conceded. “Part of it is back to leadership. It’s an area I’ve highlighted we need to invest in.”
While acknowledging that rectifying the club’s issues would not happen overnight, Donaghy pledged to tackle them head-on. “We know that is going to take a lot of hard work,” he said. “We might not fix it overnight, but we will certainly be very deliberate about designing it.”
As the Broncos brace for a defining off-season, all eyes will be on Mam and his teammates to heed their CEO’s call to arms. With the club’s reputation on the line and a new era dawning, the time for excuses has passed. For Brisbane, the road to redemption starts now.
