The winner of the club’s rookie of the award last year, the emergence of Ezra Mam into a genuine game-breaker for the Broncos has coincided with their run into this year’s finals.
Playing alongside the experienced Adam Reynolds, last season was a big learning curve for the for the five-eighth who said his improvement this year was mostly down to a growth in confidence.
“I think just my attitude (has changed), I'm more focused on what I need to do and I just a lot of confidence now (after) playing a full season,” Mam said.
“Having an actual full season under my belt, I think that those games have definitely given me confidence and just getting my combinations right with all the players around me.”
Broncos forward Kurt Capewell has seen the Goodna Eagles junior’s progression up close, including developing a new steel in defence with is likely to get tested again on Friday night against Melbourne, with Nelson Asofa-Solomona making a beeline for the youngster the last time he played against the Storm.
“He’s come forward in leaps and bounds, Herbie (Farnsworth) as well,” Capewell said.
“It's good to see our left edge doing well, but as our whole team, we still have improvement in us as well.
“(But Mam) has got a good energy about him and he's always bouncing around and training.
“He’s a great player to have in your team and to have around training.
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“He’s electric on the field and always seems to back himself, so I love playing with him and he's a great player.
“(I think he's ready for finals); he's actually been standing up in a lot of our tougher games this year.
“He's stood up to be one of our best, so I think he'll do that again this week and really take it as a challenge.”
Although he is one of 11 players named for the Broncos with no finals experience – Mam was not letting any pressure get to him in the lead-up to what will be the biggest game of his career since his NRL debut in Round 11 last year.
“Yeah, to be honest, I'm not even worried about it,” Mam said. “I'm all relaxed.
“I don't really go into a game all fired up and all that sort of stuff, I just be myself and rock up to the game and do my job.
“(But) it's definitely going to be a big challenge come week one of finals, so I'm definitely going to be on my toes for that.”
Although Mam works hard on his preparation and training, his “happy-go-lucky attitude” as Capewell calls it reflects in his combinations on the field, with his off-field friendship with fullback Reece Walsh – who has been one of the form players of the competition – reaping rewards for the Broncos.
“It's definitely good playing with him, we're good mates on and off the field,” Mam said of playing with Walsh.
“It definitely shows on the field too as well.
“He's been a big help for me this year and he's obviously brought a lot of spark to the team and a lot of confidence as well.”
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