Broncos star Ezra Mam’s NRL return could be delayed at least another week after he was placed on report in his comeback for feeder club Souths-Logan in the Queensland Cup on Sunday.
In his first tackle of the match, he collected Western Clydesdales prop Lachlan Mears-Crabbe high and he faces a nervous wait from the QRL match review committee as the Broncos sweat on his availability for Sunday’s clash with St George Illawarra.
The 22-year-old scored a first-half try and was a bit rusty in his first game back after a nine-week suspension by the NRL after he pleaded guilty to driving unlicensed and with drugs in his system when he had a head-on collision on October 18 last year.
Regular five-eighth Ben Hunt suffered a hamstring injury in Brisbane’s 22-14 loss to South Sydney on Friday night and is set to miss four to six weeks.
Half Jock Madden, a back-up option, is set for surgery on a ruptured pec sustained in the Queensland Cup and is facing three months on the sidelines.
Canterbury have been dealt another back-row blow, with lock Jaeman Salmon to miss close to 10 weeks with a fractured ankle.
With the top-of-the-table Bulldogs already significantly down on stocks, Salmon limped from the field in Saturday’s come-from-behind win over Canberra.
Scans on Sunday showed a fracture, meaning he will require surgery, with Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould suggesting he would face a 10-week return to play.
Ezra Mam passes. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Salmon’s injury comes with Josh Curran, Sitili Tupouniua and Jacob Preston all still serving suspensions. Curran has another match to wait before returning from a shoulder charge, while fellow second-rowers Tupouniua and Preston have another three games to go.
Kurt Mann is the man most likely to fill Salmon’s No.13 jersey against the Sydney Roosters on Friday night.
Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange has been banned for two matches for a dangerous throw tackle on Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton in Saturday’s loss at GIO Stadium.
But he can avoid the suspension by paying a fine of $2500 for the incident in the 13th minute of the 32-20 victory to the visitors.
Several players are also facing fines but no suspensions are likely after a quiet Round 10 on the judiciary front.
All times AEST
Knights: Powerful winger Greg Marzhew failed to finish the loss to Gold Coast due to a knee injury.
Kai Pearce-Paul and Phoenix Crossland face $1800 fines for separate Grade 1 Careless High Tackle offences, with teammate Brodie Jones charged with a $1000 fine with an early guilty plea, for a Grade 1 Crusher Tackle.
Eels: Representative winger Zac Lomax is a strong chance to make a comeback from his foot injury after just missing out on Thursday’s duel with the Dolphins.
Young forward Sam Tuivaiti suffered an ankle injury and is out for 8-10 weeks after having surgery.
Eels forward J’maine Hopgood ($1500-$2000 for a crusher tackle) was fined from Thursday’s loss to the Dolphins.
Josh Curran celebrates a try. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Bulldogs: Josh Curran has another match to wait before returning from a shoulder charge, while second-rowers Sitili Tupouniua and Jacob Preston have another three games to go.
Kurt Mann is likely to start at lock with Jaeman Salmon ruled out for two months with a fractured ankle.
Roosters: After having the bye, Sandon Smith (concussion) should be right while prop Lindsay Collins (knee) is a slight hope of playing.
Dolphins: Former Blues prop Daniel Saifiti (shoulder) is an outside chance of returning while Kiwi hooker Jeremy Marshall-(leg) King is also a maybe.
Warriors: Kiwi prop James Fisher-Harris (pectoral) looks set to return but outside backs Ali Leiataua (ankle), Rocco Berry (hamstring) and Ed Kosi (shoulder) will remain out.
Jackson Ford (concussion) could be out after copping a head knock in the win over his former club St George Illawarra in Wollongong.
Warriors forward Erin Clark ($1000-$1500 for a careless high tackle) is free to play despite being charged.
Cowboys: Reuben Cotter is out for one more match on a high tackle ban. Jason Taumalolo (calf) was a late withdrawal from the draw with Penrith on Saturday night.
Sea Eagles: Josh Aloiai (shoulder) and hooker Lachlan Croker (knee) are looking to get the green light after stints on the sideline.
Sharks: Second-rower Teig Wilton (shoulder) and fellow forward Siosifa Talakai (concussion) are on the comeback trail.
Storm: Will Warbrick (concussion) and Harry Grant (hamstring) are set to play after a month out each.
Broncos: Ben Hunt will not play until mid June due to a torn hamstring while Ezra Mam may not be available for selection after he was placed on report for a high shot in the Queensland Cup.
Star fullback Reece Walsh (knee) is probably another week away from a return from his knee injury.
Broncos forward Xavier Willison faces an $1800 fine for a Careless High Tackle, which is his second offence of this nature.
Dragons: Veteran forward Tom Eisenhuth (concussion) is due to return after sitting out their loss to the Warriors. Young prop Toby Couchman (shoulder) could be out after suffering damage on Saturday.
Raiders: English forward Matty Nicholson (ankle) limped off in the closing stages of the loss to Canterbury. Corey Horsburgh (concussion) should be right after missing a week.
Titans: Young half Tom Weaver is a possible in after missing their trip to Newcastle due to a heavy concussion.
Front-rower Jaimin Jolliffe will return from his two-game careless high tackle ban while Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has escaped sanction by the Match Review Panel after hitting Knights forward Leo Thompson high in the opening minute of their comeback 24-20 win in Newcastle.
Tigers: Starford To’a has missed the past two matches due to a neck problem while middle forward Fonua Pole (knee) did not last long in the bloodbath loss to Melbourne on Sunday.
Rabbitohs: Veteran winger Alex Johnston could be back from a hamstring problem.
Bye – Panthers
with AAP
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Not a great start for Ezra while playing for Souths-Logan!
Ben Hunt has confirmed he is 'definitely not in the picture' for the State of Origin series opener after suffering a hamstring injury in…
Are the Broncos no better than they were in 2024?
Latrell Mitchell produced a trademark moment of magic with a booming two-point field goal as South Sydney registered one of the biggest upsets of…
The one-time premiership contenders have now lost four out of the past five, and the Maroons' coach is really worried about the club's mentality.
