‘Up yours to the fans': Slater, QRL boss under fire over controversial Mam Origin selection
Queensland's selection of Ezra Mam has created a stir given the Broncos five-eighth missed nine games of the season due to a serious off-field incident.
Maroons coach Billy Slater dropped a couple of bombshells when naming his team for the must-win game two in Perth including naming Mam in the extended squad after playing just three games this season.
Mam missed the first chunk of the season after he was handed a nine-game suspension and a total of $120,000 in fines from the Broncos and NRL combined following a car crash while he was driving with drugs in his system and without a current licence.
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Slater told reported on Monday that the 22-year-old is 'the right person for that position right now' and 'we feel the squad will benefit from him being there.'
But not everyone is on board with the controversial selection with veteran journalist Phil Rothfield declaring the selection is an insult to NRL fans.
'Ben Ikin, the CEO of the Queensland Rugby League and Billy Slater have not read the room under these circumstances,'' Rothfield said on NRL 360.
'You saw Mam run onto Brookvale Oval and the entire crowd booed him. He is very, very lucky to be playing NRL football this year. I'm not going to go through the crime again.
'I think we've had to wear him coming back to play NRL this year. The NRL made the mistake there and so did the Broncos.
'But to put him on the highest stage of our game — extended bench or not — is going to the fans 'up yours'.'
Proud Queenslander and Maroons legend Gorden Tallis defended the decision by saying Mam 'has served his punishment' and that it was the NRL's fault that he was back playing and free to be selected.
'Don't blame Queensland for picking him. He's playing the game, he should be allowed to be chosen,' he declared.
But Rothfield went as far as suggesting Mam shouldn't have been allowed to play again this year.
'This was the most serious off-field indiscretion for a very long period of time, driving with drugs and drink in his system and putting a little girl into hospital,' he said.
'He does not deserve to be any part of Origin this year.
'In this situation I think he was entitled to a greater punishment. I would've been happy if he didn't play again this year.
'I'm just surprised Ben Ikin of all people, so smart, so clever, has not read the fans on this occasion.'
Tallis continued to argue that it's not Mam's fault that he was selected, to which the panel agreed. But News Corp journalist Brent Read also backed up Tallis on his belief that it's also not the QRL's fault that Mam was free to be picked.
'Once the NRL gave him the sanction and he was cleared for Origin, I don't think you can blame the QRL,' he said.
However Rothfield doubled down on saying the selection offends fans.
'Do you think the QRL understand the fan outrage that he's even playing footy this year? They've gone to the fans 'up yours',' he said.
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