Ezra Mam incident divides NRL world as Broncos dealt brutal finals blow by Bulldogs
Mam appeared to be accidentally tripped by Grant Atkins as he attempted to make a cover tackle.
Broncos fans have been left to feel somewhat hard done by after a crucial Bulldogs try wasn't ruled out despite the referee appearing to accidentally trip Ezra Mam in Brisbane's costly defeat to Canterbury on Saturday afternoon. As the Broncos five-eighth came across to try and make a cover tackle on Canterbury fullback Connor Tracey, he lost his footing after Grant Atkins seemingly clipped his heels.
The Bulldogs came into Saturday afternoon's match having lost their last seven to the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, and their previous 13 games at the venue. But they put that hoodoo to bed and then then some with a staggering 41-16 win.
However, with the score 22-10 with 20 minutes to play, Brisbane were still within touching distance. But the game was quickly put out of their reach after the Broncos were once again cut open by Bronson Xerri, who broke the line from well inside the Bulldogs' half before drawing and passing to Tracey who strolled over untouched. While the effort from Reece Walsh in cover left much to be desired, Mam was charging across to take the Canterbury No.1 when he lost his footing and fell to the ground.
Mam still almost managed to get a hand to Tracey before he crossed the line as Broncos players immediately swarmed the ref to protest. Replays appeared to show the ref clip the heels of the Brisbane No.6 but after a lengthy review from the bunker, the try was awarded to the Bulldogs.
It was a final nail in the coffin for the Broncos as their fans quickly took to X to voice their displeasure with the decision. However, other NRL fans weren't so sure Atkins was to blame and thought the Broncos five-eighth may have tripped himself up.
@nrl @brisbanebroncos Are you kidding me NRL? Your ref takes out Ezra Mam and that's ok?? He was behind Ezra at the time so it IS his fault! Ezra makes the tackle otherwise!
— Gary Turner (@Gary_Turner1965) July 27, 2024
Conveniently cropping out Mam being taken out by the ref, week in and week out I watch all of these teams on the wrong end of your pathetic bunker and selective highlights. Destroying the game one ridiculous call at a time
— Neil Cahill (@RealNeilCahill) July 27, 2024
Ref did mam a favour and saved him from missing yet another tackle. Remember first half staggs doing his “this is our home” rubbish after scoring a try, what a clown 🤡
— simon (@10mmsocket2) July 27, 2024
No no no. Ref needs to be suspended. He initiated contact with Mam!!😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇
— Bruce McNamara (@Bmacca42) July 27, 2024
Mam would have gobbled up Tracey easy and they still give a try .. please . That’s a shocker from the refs
— Ryan D (@ryand1one) July 27, 2024
Mam almost tackled him sliding along the ground. To say he wouldn't have been there to tackle is absolutely laughable. Thanks ref... #nrl #nrlbroncosbulldogs
— Aaron (@VAMH26) July 27, 2024
Mam fell over his own feet. Ref didn’t fall over.
— Simon (@simonferl) July 27, 2024
Ezra Mam whinging to the ref for tripping over his own feet ? WTF!
— Khuz (@Khuz_A) July 27, 2024
Match Highlights 🎥 - #NRLBroncosBulldogs
The Bulldogs ran riot at Suncorp to overcome the Broncos! pic.twitter.com/v1DitugM33— NRL (@NRL) July 27, 2024
Broncos finals hopes all but over after Bulldogs defeat
The Bulldogs put together one of the most clinical attacking performances of the season to all but bury the Broncos' finals hopes on Saturday. With the Bulldogs without star centre Stephen Crichton (neck) and with Brisbane playing to keep their season alive, many anticipated they would be too strong but Canterbury were not to be denied.
The Bulldogs got off to a hot start with two tries in the opening 15 minutes and looked full of confidence with the ball in their hands. Then Canterbury's third try brought fans to their feet in what was a try-of-the-season contender.
WHAT A TRY 🤯#NRLBroncosBulldogs @telstra Moment of the Match pic.twitter.com/B3g9IBAUAL
— NRL (@NRL) July 27, 2024
For the Bulldogs' third try, Burton put up a bomb that was allowed to bounce. Viliame Kikau then threw a speculative 25m no-look pass to hooker Reed Mahoney who chipped the ball cross-field for centre Jacob Kiraz to reel in with one hand before firing a pass to winger Jeral Skelton to make it 16-0.
Broncos fullback Reece Walsh got Brisbane back in the game from a scrum, beating Burton and Kikau with raw speed. They then had their own razzle dazzle moment on the cusp of halftime when centre Kotoni Staggs collected the ball 70m out from a Mam grubber and then charged away to score.
But that was as good as it got for the hosts, with the Dogs starting the second half like they did the first with an early try. Then two more four-pointers to Tracey and Kiraz continued the Brisbane blitz and buried the Broncos.
While coming into the affair, most of the talk was about if the Bulldogs could shut down Brisbane's attacking threat, it couldn't have been any more opposite on Saturday, with Brisbane managing just two line breaks, while the Bulldogs made 11.
