A Heartbreaking Moment for Kalyn Ponga
Kalyn Ponga, the Newcastle superstar, has admitted he feels responsible for Queensland’s State of Origin collapse after being sent off in the series opener. The incident left the Maroons with a 22-20 loss to NSW at Accor Stadium, marking one of the most dramatic moments in Origin history.
Ponga faced the media with blood dripping from his ear, a clear sign of the impact of the collision that led to his send-off. He became just the seventh player in Origin history to be sent off, and while he avoided a ban, he had to pay a $6900 fine for the shoulder charge on Tolu Koula, which significantly influenced the match outcome.
“I’m not proud of it,” Ponga said. “The boys had to work a lot harder because of me being off the field so that is something I am not proud of. But shit happens.”
Ponga acknowledged that his actions forced the team to work extra hard, adding, “At the end of the day, it was my action that forced the boys to work extra hard. So there is a level of responsibility there.”
The loss was particularly heartbreaking as the Maroons surrendered a 22-6 lead, allowing the Blues to pull off the biggest comeback in Origin history. Ponga expressed his deep sense of responsibility, stating, “For it to come down to the last minute and a half, it’s pretty heartbreaking. I was the reason it happened.”
Adding insult to injury, the match winner came with James Tedesco leaping over stand-in Maroons fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, highlighting the challenges faced by the team.
Queensland now needs to win in Melbourne and Brisbane to retain the Origin shield, following their successful comeback from 1-0 down last year. Referee Ashley Klein’s decision to send Ponga off will go down as one of the most seismic calls in Origin history.
The fact that the fullback avoided a ban with a grade-two charge has raised several questions about the incident. Queensland argued on-field that the contact was merely a head clash, as the Maroons’ fullback rushed across to shut down Koula as the flyer burst into space.
Klein could be heard telling the bunker he believed it was a send-off, as NSW legend Andrew Johns and Queensland great Cameron Smith protested the call in Nine’s commentary.
At the same time, Koula will miss two matches for Manly due to concussion, while Ponga is free to play for Newcastle given the NRL offers greater leniency in Origin.
Ponga confirmed after the match that the blood dripping from his ear had come from the contact with Koula. He also revealed he did not realize he had been sent off until back in the sheds but would not comment on whether he believed it was a fair call.
“I thought it was 10 minutes (in the sin bin) and they might have assessed me for a head knock,” Ponga said. “But it is what it is and the ref made the call. The refs are refs. They will make their decision. But I am not going to try and persuade them, that’s not my job.”
Queensland coach Billy Slater insisted following full-time he had no issue with the call, while Maroons veteran Pat Carrigan claimed the fullback had been unlucky.
“It’s tough. That’s the way the dice rolls,” Carrigan told AAP. “I thought he had a head clash, he had claret coming from the ear. He felt that too. But that’s just what it is, you have to deal with it.”
“It’s hard, I think there were a few examples from the finals series last year where no-one went to the bin for it. I trust KP, I trust his gut, and unfortunately that was the decision that was made and you have to live with it.”
