KIERSTEN DUKE: Queensland State of Origin coach Billy Slater wrong in selecting Brisbane Bronco star Ezra Mam

Queensland’s selection of Ezra Mam has ruffled more than a few feathers, given the Broncos five-eighth missed nine games this season due to a reckless act that could have killed a young girl.

Maroons coach Billy Slater dropped the mic more than once when naming his team for Game II of the Origin series, with the axing of Daly Cherry-Evans as skipper grabbing most of the headlines.

Facing a potential fourth straight loss heading into a must-win game in Perth, Slater appears to have not seen the writing on the wall by naming Mam in his extended squad.

The chances of Mam making his Origin debut as 18th man seem unlikely, barring an injury during training camp.

So why put both Mam and the Maroons through the meat grinder of public criticism for 10 days?

MATCH FITNESS

Aside from the serious, drug-fuelled crash Mam was involved in, the lack of game time he’s had this season is surely a concern heading into an intense contest like Origin.

Since returning from suspension, Mam has played only three games for Brisbane — which raises questions about whether his fitness and game readiness are up to Origin standard.

LEAN COURT PUNISHMENT

Mam missed a significant chunk of the season after being handed a nine-game suspension and fined $120,000 by the Broncos and the NRL.

A big punishment, you might think — but the sport felt it had to send a message after the court essentially let Mam off with an $850 fine, a six-month licence disqualification, and no conviction recorded.

Anyone who has travelled to the USA knows how having a criminal conviction can complicate things — so that was an important legal outcome for Mam ahead of any future Las Vegas NRL trips.

In October last year, the 22-year-old was involved in a head-on collision with an Uber, injuring the driver and two passengers. To make matters worse, Mam was driving without a licence and had cocaine in his system.

If that wasn’t bad enough, one of the passengers was a four-year-old girl who suffered a fractured hip. Her mother and the driver were also injured.

I’m not a mother myself, but the thought of a little girl in immense pain as a result of a thoughtless, selfish act is both heartbreaking and infuriating.

And it wouldn’t just be in that moment that this girl would suffer. For the rest of her life, she may battle nightmares and anxiety from the trauma.

When you consider the bigger picture, it makes you wonder whether a nine-game ban and $120,000 in fines was a severe enough punishment for a player who signed a five-year, $4 million deal last year.

Most people would be lucky to avoid jail time.

FAILING THE PUB TEST

I know I’m not the only league fan who feels this way. Two weeks ago, Mam was booed so loudly it shook Brookvale Oval.

And just when I thought I couldn’t feel more emotional about this whole situation, Mam came out post-game and claimed the crowd’s booing was related to his stance against racism following the Spencer Leniu incident in Las Vegas. Please.

You could be brand new to rugby league and still know that Manly fans aren’t going to be sympathetic to a Roosters player.

OUT OF TOUCH

Once again, Ezra Mam showed a lack of awareness about what’s right and wrong. Don’t try to change the narrative — and for goodness’ sake, don’t take rugby league fans for fools.

On the subject of lacking awareness — how did Slater think fans would rejoice at seeing Mam on the big stage?

We all have that one friend who can’t read the room, but this is a bit much, Billy.

WRONG CALL FOR BIG GAME

Mam is lucky to be playing NRL after his appalling behaviour. His punishment was incredibly light, all things considered, and should have been far more severe.

Choosing him to potentially play in one of Queensland’s most important Origin games in decades feels like a kick in the teeth.

What kind of standard does this set for younger players coming through the system?

Right now, the bar couldn’t be lower.