Brisbane legend Darren Lockyer says five-eighth Ezra Mam can be an even more destructive NRL player if he backs his running game.
Four-time premiership winner Lockyer wore the No.6 jersey with class after switching from fullback mid-career and had every weapon in his arsenal.
Now a Broncos board member, he is a big fan of 20-year-old Mam who turned heads in his rookie NRL season in 2022 as he scored six tries and had seven try assists in 13 games.
The best five-eighths in the game like Cameron Munster, Cody Walker and Jarome Luai all run the ball with impact.
"I think backing his running game is the key for Ezra this year," Lockyer told AAP at Channel Nine's Wide World of Sports NRL season launch.
"When we talk about the good halves in the game most of them can pass and kick the football well, but the most effective ones are those with a strong running game.
"Ezra has shown he is very effective when he wants to run.
"You have to take the line on because when teams are doing their review sheet on the opposition if you are someone that doesn't take the line on they know all about it, so they just go where the passes go."
As a youngster in the late 1990s Lockyer was known for stepping up and shining when Allan Langer or Kevin Walters were out of action.
Lockyer was impressed with Mam in the recent trial win over North Queensland where he set up two tries with kicks when carrying added responsibility
"(Captain) Adam Reynolds didn't play and he really stepped up which will be good for his confidence," Lockyer said.
"That is what we want to see from him, that he is starting to back himself and be more confident about directing the team around the park.
"You learn a lot in those moments. This year I think he will feel more confident about his voice in the team. It will just be about having that discipline and mentality every week to get ready to play his best game."
Mam fell away at the end of last season along with the rest of the team but Lockyer said it would be a lesson learned. Those lessons will be vital in the round-one NRL clash with defending champions Penrith away on Friday night.
"I think Ezra did extremely well in year one," Lockyer said.
"A lot of kids will come into grade and find a bit of a flat spot. Most of the team found a flat spot last year, but I think he would have learned a lot about what it takes to be a pro first grader week-in and week-out."
