Brisbane coach Michael Maguire has stuck to his guns and sensationally kept star playmaker Ezra Mam on the bench against South Sydney.
The 23-year-old has been listed at No.18 and Tom Duffy preferred for the second week in a row in the starting five-eighth role against the Rabbitohs at Homebush on Thursday night.
Mam, on the extended bench for Queensland for the opening State of Origin clash, was demoted to the bench by Maguire after the dire 30-26 loss to St George Illawarra in round 13.
He was inserted into the fray early in the 28-23 loss to Gold Coast on Saturday night and two key incisions led to two tries.
Mam came on while his replacement at No.6, Duffy, was assessed for a category two head knock, which he passed.
The dazzling five-eighth was criticised for his final minute play when he kicked the ball rather than spinning it wide where the Broncos had an overlap and could have scored to win the match.
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds leapt to the defence of 2025 grand final star Mam.
"I checked in with him and he's doing fine," Reynolds said
"It's easy for the critics out there who haven't played rugby league to pause the screen at a certain moment, say he should have done this or should have done that, but those same people in that situation probably wouldn't be where he is.
"We love everything that he brings to this football team. He's a quality player and from time to time we do make mistakes as players.
"It's easy to sit there and pick the game apart from the couch, but when you're out there, it is a different feeling."
Reynolds insisted Mam's game against the Titans was superb overall.
"I thought he was outstanding once he got on the field. He did a lot of great things for us," Reynolds said.
"He narrowed his mindset throughout the week in the way he wanted to go about his business, and I thought he did that.
"Obviously, we could sit down and pick apart that last play, but he did a lot of good things for the team on the night
"Without him, maybe we wouldn't have been in that position anyway. I think he was a big part of this team. We all know the capabilities of Ezra."
The defending premiers have lost five matches in a row and are slipping out of finals contention.
Maguire has been forced to make more changes to the side with Payne Haas, Kotoni Staggs and Reece Walsh on State of Origin duty.
Hayze Perham will play fullback in place of Walsh and Antonio Verhoeven is listed in the centres to replace Staggs.
In positive news, Jordan Riki returns from a foot injury to take his place in the second-row.
