Updated ,first published
A bloodied Kalyn Ponga initially thought he had been sent to the sin-bin, and only realised he had been sent off for hitting Tolu Koula in the head while sitting in the Queensland sheds.
Ponga was sent straight from the field in the 57th minute when he ironed out NSW flyer Koula with his left shoulder.
Referee Ashley Klein told bunker official Chris Butler, “it’s a shoulder charge direct to the head – I think that’s a send-off”.
Klein was later overheard telling Butler, “I know what you’re saying” before maintaining there had been no attempt by Ponga to make a tackle.
Ponga became the seventh player in Origin history to be sent straight from the field, with Queensland giving up 16 unanswered points when reduced to 12 men.
Ponga was later charged with a grade-two shoulder charge late Wednesday, and fined 23 per cent of his match payment, or $6900.
Koula displayed category-two concussion symptoms but later failed the required protocols to return to play.
Speaking about the controversial moment, which left TV commentators questioning if Klein’s decision was too harsh, Ponga said: “The boys had to work a lot harder because of me being off the field. That’s something I’m not proud of, but shit happens.
“In the moment, it’s hard to know exactly what’s happening.
“I didn’t realise it was a send-off when I left. I thought it was 10 minutes [in the bin]. And to be honest, I thought they may have assessed me for a head knock.
“For them to play with 12 [players] for 20 minutes, and defend our line, the effort they put in, and for it to come down to the last minute and a half, it’s pretty heartbreaking.
“I was the reason that it happened. On the flipside, it came down to the last minute, so you’re pretty proud as well.
“At the end of the day, it was my action that forced the boys to work extra hard.
“I’d like that moment back, for sure.”
Queensland coach Billy Slater said after the game: “He [Ponga] feels he’s let his team down, but those things happen in games. They happen really quick.
“I’ve been in his position, I know how hard it is: spur of the moment, it’s wet out there, things happen. I thought it was a courageous effort from our players. I’m heartbroken for them – the effort they put in. They played with so much heart.”
NSW thought they had scored in the very set after Ponga’s send-off, when Ethan Strange crashed over on the right, only for Haumole Olakau’atu to be pulled up for an obstruction on Harry Grant.
But Strange had a four-pointer not long after as an almighty NSW comeback against 12 Queenslanders took shape.
When Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii shot out of the line and almost decapitated Reece Walsh at the same venue in game one in 2024, there were few complaints when he was given his marching orders.
The Ponga dismissal, however, will continue to be hotly debated in the coming days.
Prior to the send-off, Klein had allowed the game to flow, blowing just three penalties and three set re-starts in the opening half. It was like being back in 2022, and it was beautiful to watch. A key six-again call late in the game allowed the Blues to go on the attack and score via Nathan Cleary to move within four points of the Maroons.
Any contentious calls were quickly sorted out by Butler sitting in the bunker, including the decision to penalise Cam Murray for climbing over the back of Kurt Capewell when trying to score a try late in the first half.
Queensland did well to win a captain’s challenge in the second half when Max Plath claimed he was collected high when trying to catch the ball. NSW then butchered their challenge when Murray thought he was hit high by Cam Munster.
Klein will be remembered for one decision, but it should not overshadow what was a good overall performance, and he should get the gig at the MCG for game two next month.
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