BRONCO EDGING CLOSER TO DREAM ORIGIN DEBUT
Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam has rocketed into the frame for a Queensland Origin debut on the back of his NRL grand final heroics after being invited to an exclusive Maroons camp this weekend.
Mam will be one of 34 current and emerging Queensland players gathering in Brisbane for the bonding camp as Billy Slater kicks off his quest for three straight Origin series wins this year.
All the players who featured in Queensland’s winning 2023 series have been invited along with the next crop of Maroons stars.
After scoring a stunning hat-trick in last year’s premiership decider loss to Penrith, Mam headlines the list of uncapped Maroons prospects along with Cowboys weapon Heilum Luki, Titans forward Beau Fermor, Eels workhorse J’maine Hopgood and Roosters playmaker Sam Walker.
Slater, who lost key lieutenant Cameron Smith this week, has also invited experienced players who were overlooked for selection last year in Kalyn Ponga, Kurt Capewell, Corey Oates and Dane Gagai.
While Storm star Cameron Munster is firmly entrenched in the Queensland No.6 jersey, captain Daly Cherry-Evans is nearing retirement and Slater is preparing for the next generation of Maroons playmakers.
Tom Dearden shone in Munster’s absence in the 2022 decider and now the likes of Walker and Mam are banging on the door.
Mam, who turned 21 this week, recently said he was determined to play for Queensland.
“Origin is definitely a goal of mine,” he said. “Right now I am just trying to nail my game here (at the Broncos).
“Hopefully I can put some good games together and impress people at the Maroons. But my focus is the Broncos, I need to play well for them first.”
After missing selection in last year’s series due to concussion issues, Ponga dominated the back end of the NRL season to claim the Dally M Medal.
He is back in the Maroons selection mix for the 2024 series and will be putting pressure on Broncos fullback Reece Walsh, who was strong in his debut campaign before missing game three due to suspension.
Ponga confirmed he was making himself available for Origin selection this year.
“I do want to put myself forward for Queensland,” he told Channel 9.
“Hopefully we can have another good season here (Newcastle) and I can play Origin. Playing at the highest level is always a goal of mine. I want to play in that arena, for sure.”