Premiership playmaker Ezra Mam has been snubbed again by Broncos coach Michael Maguire as back-rower Jordan Riki answered a forward SOS for Thursday night’s clash against South Sydney.

A defiant Maguire has resisted calls for Mam to be returned to the starting side, keeping faith in Tom Duffy’s scrumbase alliance with Adam Reynolds to break a five-match losing streak against the Rabbitohs.

The reigning NRL premiers are languishing in 12th spot with a shock 5-8 record and a sixth consecutive defeat at Accor Stadium could deliver the bullet to Brisbane’s finals hopes.

Mam was sensationally dropped to the bench following Brisbane’s dismal 30-26 loss to the Dragons and there was a push for him to return to the No.6 jumper after he sparked the Broncos in last week’s 28-23 defeat to the Titans.

But Maguire believes Duffy deserves a longer stint in the starting side to prove his playmaking bona fides, keeping Mam in the No.18 jumper for the must-win clash with Wayne Bennett’s Bunnies.

Skipper Reynolds, Mam’s long-term halves partner, says the 23-year-old, a member of Queensland’s 19-man squad for Origin I just a fortnight ago, has not dropped his bundle over his Red Hill relegation.

“He’s been good. I checked in with him (on Sunday) and he’s doing fine,” Reynolds said.

“I thought he was outstanding once he got on the field (against the Titans). He did a lot of great things for us.

“He narrowed his mindset throughout the week in the way he wanted to go about his business, and I thought he did that.

“Without him, maybe we wouldn’t have been in that position (to beat the Titans) anyway.

“We all know the capabilities of Ezra.”

Brisbane’s teetering title defence copped further blows with the Broncos heading to Sydney on Tuesday without star triumvirate Payne Haas, Kotoni Staggs and Reece Walsh, who were ruled out due to Origin II commitments.

In a boost for the Broncos, premiership back-rower Riki will make a swift return from surgery to treat a plantar tear in his foot, while rookie Antonio Verhoeven returns from injury to replace Staggs at centre.

Veteran utility back Hayze Perham will fill the Walsh void at fullback, giving Maguire some crucial experience in his spine as the Broncos fight to save their season.

The absence of Haas is massive with makeshift props Preston Riki and Jack Gosiewski facing the daunting task of stepping up for Brisbane’s No.1 forward.

The eighth-placed Rabbitohs desperately need to win to avoid dropping out of the top eight, but Maguire remains confident the Broncos can kickstart their title resurgence.

“They are bloody trying,” he said.

“I can’t fault the effort, but this week we have to be prepared and ready to go.

“We have to look at parts of our game where we need to be better.

“Losing is always a concern. We want to turn up and win and we have a club with an expectation around that, but we haven’t been able to dig those out.

“That’s what the NRL is. Every team can win here. They talk about teams at the bottom but we have to turn up and be at our best.

“I have a group that really cares, there’s a lot of hurt when you don’t succeed because we have a lot of fans who care.

“I have a group that’s trying hard but things aren’t clicking for us.”

-Peter Badel

FORMER BRONCO EYES DEBUT AT BUNNIES

Queensland bolter and former Broncos rookie John Radel is edging closer to a South Sydney NRL debut.

This masthead understands off-season recruit Radel is set to be named in Souths’ extended squad for Thursday night’s clash against his former Broncos club at Accor Stadium.

The 23-year-old prop, who hails from Taroom, joined the Rabbitohs over summer and has impressed super coach Wayne Bennett with his form for the Rabbitohs’ NSW Cup team.

The loss of Souths ironman Cameron Murray to Origin II duties has opened the door for Radel, who is in line to be named in the Rabbitohs’ 22-man squad for the round 15 showdown with the NRL premiers.

Radel joined the Rabbitohs this season after three seasons in the Queensland Cup.

A former member of the Broncos Academy, Radel played for Brisbane’s feeder club Wynnum Manly in 2023 before spending two seasons with Mackay Cutters in the Hostplus Cup.

The no-nonsense middle forward, a Wandoan Wildcats junior, has chalked up 10 appearances in reserve grade for the Rabbitohs this season.

Bennett will finalise his 19-man squad on Wednesday with Radel hopeful of an NRL debut in the coming weeks.

-Peter Badel

SUPERCOACH LOSERS FROM TEAMS

* Nicho Hynes – Again misses out for the Sharks due to a calf injury. However, with Reece Walsh a priority sell, Hynes could be a hold depending on team make-up.

* Reece Walsh – Named on the six-man bench for the Maroons and therefore unavailable for the Broncos. Sell.

* Mark Nawaqanitawase – Was my early pick as buy of the week after 128 on his return from injury. But he was called into the NSW squad when Stephen Crichton was ruled out and now won’t play for the Roosters.

* Kulikefu Finefeuiaki – Named on the bench for the Maroons and therefore unavailable for the Dolphins. Potential sell, but others definitely go first.

* Tallis Duncan – With Campbell Graham out for a month with a calf injury, Duncan switches to centre, where his work rate drops considerably. On the plus side, he’s now in line for dual positioning in the next updates in Round 18.

* Clayton Faulalo – The in-form fullback averaged 85.5 over the last four games but picked up a hamstring injury over the weekend and is on the bye. Sell.

* Heilum Luki, Scott Drinkwater, Ativalu Lisati, Setu Tu – A number of early-season SuperCoach fancies are on the bye and could be sold.

SUPERCOACH WINNERS FROM TEAMS

* Jackson Ford and Te Maire Martin – Star Warriors back from the bye and straight into our 13s on a tough week. Ford may spend time on the edge, which all-but guarantees 80 minutes, but reduces his work rate.

* Jacob Laban – Cheapie of the week. Starts again for the Wahs in place of Kurt Capewell. Laban has averaged 72 in 73.5 minutes across his last two games as Capewell’s replacement and has a BE of -39.

* Ethan Sanders – Named for the Raiders despite failing to finish last week. Still in 43,066 teams so a crucial extra number for many.

* Jayden Campbell – Has averaged 90 over the last two weeks and is the best replacement for Nicho Hynes, Reece Walsh and Scott Drinkwater. Plays the leaky Tigers in day game at Leichhardt Oval and is therefore a great captaincy option.

* Terrell May and Kai Pearce-Paul – Full-season keepers with the best bye schedule in the comp. May is a must and KPP isn’t far behind.

ROUND 15 NRL TEAM LISTS

RABBITOHS V BRONCOS

Thursday, 7:50pm, Accor Stadium

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Siegwalt 4. Tallis Duncan 5. Edward Kosi 6. Cody Walker 7. Ashton Ward 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Brandon Smith 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Euan Aitken 13. Lachlan Hubner

Interchange: 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Jamie Humphreys 16. Jayden Sullivan 17. John Radel 18. Dayne Jennings 19. Liam Le Blanc

Reserves: 20. Matthew Dufty 21. Moala Graham-Taufa 22. Salesi Ataata 23. Jai Arrow

Broncos

1. Hayze Perham 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Antonio Verhoeven 4. Grant Anderson 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Thomas Duffy 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Preston Riki 9. Cory Paix 10. Jack Gosiewski 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Xavier Willison

Interchange: 14. Ben Hunt 15. Ben Talty 17. Aublix Tawha 18.Ezra Mam 19. Josh Rogers 21. Jaiyden Hunt

Reserves: 20. Phillip Coates 22. Blake Mozer 23. Luke Gale

DOLPHINS V ROOSTERS

Friday, 8:00pm, Suncorp Stadium

Dolphins

1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jack Bostock 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Tevita Naufahu 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Felise Kaufusi 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Francis Molo 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Morgan Knowles

Interchange: 14. Brad Schneider 15. Kurt Donoghoe 16. Tom Gilbert 17. Ray Stone 18. Sebastian Su’a 19. Brad Pouniu

Reserves: 20. John Fineanganofo 21. LJ Nonu 22. Sam Elliot

Roosters

1. Cody Ramsey 2. Billy Smith 3. Reece Foley 4. Egan Butcher 5. Tommy Talau 6. Hugo Savala 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Connor Watson 10. Spencer Leniu 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Salesi Foketi

Interchange: 14. Benaiah Ioelu 15. Taylor Losalu 16. Nat Butcher 17. Rex Bassingthwaighte 18. De La Salle Va’a 19. Tom Rodwell

Reserves: 20. Junior Tupou 21. Toby Rodwell 23. Max McCathie

WARRIORS V SHARKS

Saturday, 7:30pm, Go Media Stadium

Warriors

1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Te Maire Martin 8. Tanner Stowers-Smith 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Marata Niukore 12. Jacob Laban 13. Erin Clark

Interchange: 14. Makaia Tafua 15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Marata Niukore 18. Kayliss Fatialofa 20. Jye Linnane

Reserves: 21. Luke Metcalf 22. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 23. Jacob Auloa

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Niwhai Puru 8. Jesse Colquhoun 9. Jayden Berrell 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Billy Burns 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 14. Mawene Hiroti 15. Oregon Kaufusi 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Hohepa Puru 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha

Reserves: 20. Sione Katoa 21. Michael Gabrael 22. Blake Hosking

EELS V RAIDERS

Saturday, 7:30pm, CommBank Stadium

Eels

1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Brian Kelly 3. Jordan Samrani 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Joash Papali’i 7. Ronald Volkman 8. Luca Moretti 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Jack Williams 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Jack de Belin

Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Sam Tuivaiti 16. Teancum Brown 17. Harrison Edwards 18. Apa Twidle 19. Charlie Guymer

Reserves:20. Toni Mataele 21. Ryley Smith 22. Araz Nanva

Raiders

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Sebastian Kris 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Xavier Savage 6. Daine Laurie 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Ata Mariota 12. Zac Hosking 13. Jayden Brailey

Interchange: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Vena Patuki-Case 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Chevy Stewart 18. Coby Black 19. Joseph Roddy

Reserves:20. Jordan Uta 21. Jake Clydsdale 22. Sione Finau

TIGERS V TITANS

Sunday, 4:05pm, Leichhardt Oval

Wests Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Taylan May 4. Starford To’a 5. Heamasi Makasini 6. Jarome Luai 7. Jock Madden 8. Terrell May 9. Latu Fainu 10. Fonua Pole 11. Tony Sukkar 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Sione Fainu

Interchange: 14. Tristan Hope 15. Alex Seyfarth 16. Bunty Afoa 17. Patrick Herbert 18. Maverick Geyer 19. Charlie Murray

Reserves: 20. Luke Laulilii 21. Josese Lanyon 22. Javon Andrews

Titans

1. Keano Kini 2. Jenson Taumoepeau 3. Jaylan De Groot 4. AJ Brimson 5. Phillip Sami 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Zane Harrison 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Oliver Pascoe 10. Klese Haas 11. Arama Hau 12. Beau Fermor 13. Cooper Bai

Interchange: 14. Kurtis Morrin 15. Josh Patston 16. Jett Liu 17. Adam Christensen 18. Luke Sommerton 19. Max Feagai

Reserves: 20. Lachlan Ilias 21. Tony Francis 22. Michael Molo

Originally published as NRL teams Round 15: Ezra Mam remains on outer, Nicho Hynes ruled out