NRL star Ezra Mam has been been told he is lucky no one was killed after his "stupid" decision to drive unlicensed on a cocktail of drugs, including cocaine.
A magistrate has slammed the Brisbane playmaker, fining the 21-year-old and suspending his licence after a head-on collision.
Mam faces an NRL ban after pleading guilty in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday, almost two months after the crash that caused minor injuries to occupants of the other vehicle.
He was charged after driving a Ford Ranger that struck a Toyota Camry travelling in the opposite direction in Bardon, in Brisbane's innerwest, on October 18.
Magistrate Mark Nolan took aim at Mam, who appeared in a packed court in a dark suit with his mother in support.
He chastised the Broncos pivot for his "stupid decision" to drive unlicensed with a cocktail of drugs including cocaine in his blood.
"At so many levels you are fortunate to stand where you are today given you were involved in a two-vehicle motor accident," he said.
"You could've been injured or killed or the other parties could've been injured or killed.
“There’s no place for illicit drugs in our community and there’s certainly no place for a person who is using illicit drugs to get behind the wheel of a car - you’ve got to learn from this."
The court was told Mam had undergone rehab for four weeks after the crash and was undertaking 12 months of counselling.
The Brisbane star told a media scrum outside court he was deeply remorseful.
"Today is a very important step in owning my actions and starting to make things right," he said.
"To the people involved in the accident, I am truly sorry.
"This incident isn't a reflection of who I want to be, what is expected of me as a role model.
"To the NRL, the Brisbane Broncos, the fans and my family, I'm sorry. I promise to work on being a better person and representative of the club and the game that I love."
Mam told police at the crash scene he was "moving house" and knew his licence had been suspended because of lost demerit points.
The Broncos playmaker had a roadside drug test and returned a positive result. A secondary test was also positive.
Comment is being sought from the Broncos.
Mam is at risk of an NRL ban based on other off-field incidents.
Canterbury winger Josh Addo-Carr and Cronulla playmaker Braydon Trindall both tested positive to driving under the influence of an illicit drug in the 2024 season.
The NRL fined Addo-Carr $15,000 and suspended him for four matches while Trindall was stood down by the Sharks and missed five games.
The length of any rugby league ban will be determined by the NRL.
Mam on Monday pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug is present in blood and driving without a licence.
He was fined $850 and had his licence suspended for six months.
No conviction was recorded.
