Controversial Brisbane five-eighth Ezra Mam has been encouraged not dial down his aggression after standing over the top of Parramatta winger Zac Lomax and shouting at him last Friday.
Mam helped drive Lomax into touch in the opening minutes of the loss to Parramatta, and quickly made sure he let the NSW Origin winger know what he thought of him.
Eels players, who had the last laugh with a shock 22-20 victory, did not appreciate Mam’s response.
Footage of the tackle – and Mam’s reaction – drew differing opinions over the weekend.
Stood down by the NRL for nine matches at the start of the season after he pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug was present in his blood or saliva, and driving without a licence following an incident last October, Mam has become one of the most polarising players in the game.
He was booed by Manly fans at 4 Pines Park in May, then again with every carry against the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium in round 18.
Rather than see Mam dial it down a notch, Brisbane skipper Adam Reynolds was happy for the No.6 to keep trying to inspire his teammates with big plays – and react accordingly.
“That was a bit of emotion coming out, it was a big defensive play, he dragged him over the sideline and was fired up at the time – there was nothing more in it,” Reynolds said.
“You can see how much the game means to him when he comes up with a play.
“He tries to do it more than once a game. You love those blokes who go out there and play that style of footy – they’re winners, and they’re trying to get a result for your team.
“It’s great to see. I love it when your teammates do that. You can try and get under the skin of other players and put them off their game a bit.
“It was all in the spirit of the game. There was no malice.
“Zac Lomax is a very good player for Parramatta, he’s a big reason they’re playing the good footy they are at the moment. But getting that win over him in that little moment, Ezra was basically standing up for his team and doing his job.”
Mam fronted the press on Tuesday and spoke about being jeered by rival fans, and how, “I’m sure with time, people will change the way they feel [about me], but if they don’t, I can’t control that”.
The Broncos blew a chance to move within two points of the fourth-placed Warriors with their loss to the Eels, and will look to get their campaign back on track at home to South Sydney on Friday night.
Sydney Morning Herald
