How the Ezra Mam incident has opened the door for a Ben Hunt Broncos return

SEN’s Andrew Voss believes the Brisbane Broncos are in pole position to acquire St George Illawarra Dragons halfback Ben Hunt following the uncertainty over beleaguered playmaker Ezra Mam.

The Dragons have granted Hunt permission to negotiate with rivals immediately despite having a year left on his current contract. Hunt has confirmed his desire to return to his native Queensland but there is significant doubt over whether a club could fit the 34-year-old in their current salary cap.

Meanwhile, Mam has found himself in hot water after failing a roadside drug test after crashing his vehicle whilst unlicensed. Voss believes the Broncos are set to punish Mam hard and could open a path for Hunt to return to Red Hill.

“This situation would be making Ben Hunt a very happy man,” Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“If Ezra Mam is sacked, and he’s on $800,000 a year, the Broncos will then have money to spend.

“The Dragons would have to chip in $100,000 or $200,000 or something like that for next year.

“I reckon the Broncos are now the favourites to land Ben Hunt based on the outcome of the Ezra Mam story.

“If Mam is found guilty of all the things that are alleged at this point, I don’t see how he possibly stays at the club.

“I don’t see how a new coach comes on board and lets this one slip by.”

The Mam incident is the latest in a string of issues to engulf the Broncos in the past month including the sacking of club legend and coach Kevin Walters and the hiring of Michael Maguire which caught the ire of several Broncos old boys.

Maguire officially starts his new role on Wednesday but Voss believes the incoming punishment should serve as a line in the sand for the underperforming Broncos.

“He’s on a $4 million contract so what do you do?” Voss continued.

“If you are Michael Maguire, you are looking at establishing a culture.

“You have to put a marker in the sand and (let your players know) that this is how we are going to do things.

“You have to make a decision on one of your biggest names on your first day on the job.”