The Brisbane Broncos may have seen their season disappear before their eyes on Thursday night after Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam both pulled their hamstrings on the same play in the loss to Melbourne. In unbelievable scenes, first Mam and then Reynolds both went down clutching at their hamstrings during a chase of Xavier Coates in the first-half.
Coates took an intercept from Mam’s pass and dodged a number of Broncos players chasing him. Mam pulled up after diving for a tackle, while Reynolds lunged at Coates and immediately stopped short. And to make matters worse, Selwyn Cobbo injured his hamstring later in the game.
The Brisbane Broncos may have seen their season disappear before their eyes on Thursday night after Adam Reynolds (pictured left) and Ezra Mam both pulled their hamstrings in one play. (Images: Getty Images/Fox Sports)
Cobbo made an incredible cover tackle on Coates in the play that injured Reynolds and Mam. But the winger was seen clutching at his own hamstring later in the game and could also spend time on the sideline.
Broncos coach Michael Maguire claimed he had never seen such scenes in his coaching career after seeing both halves exit the game. “It was crazy to be honest,” Maguire said. When pushed on how the team could look after losing both halves against the Melbourne Storm the coach admitted he hadn’t thought that far ahead.
“I’ll talk to the players and we’ll go through that,” he said. “I haven’t even thought about that to be honest “I’m just sort of more concerned about the boys [injuries].”
Unfortunately for the Broncos the injuries to their halves combination, in particular to veteran halfback Reynolds, has the NRL community questioning their premiership credentials. One more loss for the Broncos could see them facing a battle to remain in the top eight.
The Brisbane Broncos have often struggled without halfback Adam Reynolds in the side.
Brisbane Broncos cop harsh Adam Reynolds fallout
And Reynolds’ injury does come as a major blow for fans and the club. Reynolds had just re-signed with the Broncos on a one year extension. Although the 35-year-old has been prone to injuries in the twilight of his career.
Reynolds missed a solid portion of the 2024 season for the Broncos after rupturing his bicep against the Roosters. The Broncos failed to make the eight, which saw coach Kevin Walters depart. And Reynolds could miss the remainder of the regular season with only four games left. The Broncos also face the Storm again in the final round, which could determine if they make finals footy.
The decision to re-sign the 35-year-old for another season could also come under scrutiny, depending on Reynolds’ injury, with the Broncos under a salary cap squeeze and the halfback injuring himself again at a vital stage of the season. More importantly, most fans doubt the Broncos can go deep into NRL finals without their star halfback and the likes of Mam and Cobbo.
‘NRL Physio’ Brien Seeney claimed he had ‘never seen’ the scenes that unfolded on Thursday night with two players limping off the field at the same time from the same play. Most agreed the Broncos season is in tatters after the injury-toll.
Unbelievable scenes with both Adam Reynolds & Ezra Mam suffering hamstring injuries on the one play – a turn & chase on Xavier Coates.
Both high speed mechanisms & noticeably limping – likely multi-week recoveries incoming & as we’ve seen with other similar cases recently could… pic.twitter.com/5697FBRKVq
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) August 7, 2025
Cobbo, Mam and Reynolds with hamstring injuries all in one game.. Yeah this is hell
— 🌟 (@JBroncosEra) August 7, 2025
This is why we shouldn’t of re signed Adam Reynolds. Need to look to the future. He too old and injury prone
— Hawk12 (@Hawk1279749323) August 7, 2025
Why does Adam Reynolds do this? He knows his limitations; he just doesn’t need to chase Coates there. He must learn to manage his body #NRLStormBroncos
— TGG-League (@RugbyLeagueTGG) August 7, 2025
These past two months have been the best part of our season and we have only lost once. Just when we thought this season could turn into something both of our halves got sniped on the same play
Mam, Reynolds and Willison injured in b2b weeks.. Just so brutal man..
— 🌟 (@JBroncosEra) August 7, 2025
The Broncos premiership hopes just went up the tunnel
— Chookster (@HylandRode72482) August 7, 2025
Michael Maguire defends Brisbane Broncos depth
Speaking after the game, Maguire admitted he isn’t concerned with his side’s depth with Ben Hunt most likely moving into the halves, while Billy Walters could slot into the No.9 role. “We’ll be right,” he said.
“I mean, we’ve got people in the background that can come in. That’s part of the progression. We’ve been able to bring a few people in and change around a little bit, so we’ll work through that throughout the week.”
Maguire was impressed with his side’s grit, having lost three players to injury, despite his side failing to score a try. “To the players’ credit, I felt like they handled it really well,” he said.
“They were fighting in that game. Benny [Ben Hunt] went to the halves, Billy [Walters] came on and Kotoni [Staggs] went into the halves as well, we had back rowers in the centres and it just showed what I feel is the character of what the boys have been building for quite some time, the fight that’s in them and playing tough.”
Ezra Mam (pictured left) exited the game after his injury against the Melbourne Storm.