Ezra Mam has warned his best football is still ahead of him and insists his life-changing multi-million dollar contract extension won’t change him one bit as he targets ending Brisbane’s 18-year title drought.
On Wednesday, the 21-year-old No.6 spoke for the first time since signing a five-year deal that will keep him at the Broncos until at least the end of 2029.
Mam knocked back $900,000-plus per season from the Dolphins to stay loyal. He was previously on a $250,000 deal at Brisbane.
The flying five-eighth said the money on offer at the Dolphins was not a consideration for him, and insisted his mega-deal at Brisbane would not alter the way he goes about his business.
“I don't think it is going to change me at all. I am just a kid from Goodna and want to play footy,” the Ipswich-raised Mam said.
“That is the main thing I was raised to do - to play footy and have fun with my friends and family. I don't think it will change me.
“I told my management that I want to look no further than the Broncos and that's the way we handled it.
"I was surprised to hear all the reports about the Dolphins, but I didn't look that far.
“I grew up a big Broncos fan. I debuted here and they have looked after me since I was a young kid of 13 coming into the development system.
“That loyalty the club has showed me made the decision very easy. I'm happy to spend a lot more time at the Broncos.”
Mam’s value skyrocketed after he scored three dazzling tries in last year’s grand final loss to Penrith.
Coach Kevin Walters said the Broncos were “just scratching the surface” with Mam, and the player agreed.
“I am just getting started in my career. I have only played a handful of games now so I am just looking to play some consistent footy,” Mam said.
“It is about developing my craft and working on the little things instead of the big things. I don't really take that grand final into consideration."
Mam said there was “no doubt” Brisbane could win the 2024 title.
“It is about us all having a clear head and knowing what the goal is," he said.
"We are not just going into a season looking to play footy. We like to go into a season winning.
"The main goal is for us to win the grand final.”
Mam said he intended to learn plenty from veteran half and skipper Adam Reynolds over the next two years and hoped the off-contract 33-year-old stayed on at the club.
A new deal for Reynolds is imminent.
The newly re-signed No.6 confirmed he would miss the All Stars clash in Townsville next week with a groin strain but said the injury would not keep him out of round-one action in Las Vegas.
