Queensland Maroons Head Coach Billy Slater Remains Quiet on Kalyn Ponga’s Send-Off
Queensland Maroons head coach Billy Slater has chosen not to engage in any serious discussion regarding the controversial send-off of Kalyn Ponga during the State of Origin opener. The incident occurred with over 20 minutes remaining in the match when referee Ashley Klein sent Ponga off the field for what was ruled a shoulder charge directly to the head.
The on-field official made the decision without hesitation, and it proved to be a pivotal moment as Queensland lost their 14-point lead. Despite the setback, Slater expressed no concerns about the ruling, stating that he had no issues with the send-off.
“It is what it is,” Slater said during his post-match press conference. “I haven’t got any problems with it. He is okay. He feels he has let his team down. Those things happen in games, and they happen really quick. I’ve played that position, I know how hard it is, and in the spur of the moment, things happen, it’s wet out there.”
Slater praised the effort of his players, highlighting their courage and heart in the final 23 minutes of the game. He acknowledged New South Wales’ strong performance, particularly their ability to chase down the points and secure victory at the death.
“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 in that last 23 minutes, and New South Wales did a great job. They had to chase the points down, and they got them, right at the death. I thought they played with plenty of spirit.”
When asked for further comment, Slater declined to elaborate, stating that he would not make any noise about the incident. “I haven’t got a problem with it, it’s fine. I’m not going to make any noise about it; it is what it is, it’s a game of footy, and they have to make decisions out there. They are the breaks,” he added.
On-Field Perspective from Queensland Captain Cameron Munster
In between Slater’s comments, Queensland captain Cameron Munster was questioned about the on-field view. He suggested that the incident was a head clash rather than a shoulder charge.
“They were talking about the positioning, it’s a spur-of-the-moment type of thing. I thought it might have been head-on-head with the split on KP’s ear, but the referee and the bunker saw it differently. At the end of the day, rules are rules, and unfortunately, there was a bit of force to his head,” Munster said.
He admitted that the referee had to make a split-second decision, adding, “We got on with it, fought our best, and unfortunately, it wasn’t enough tonight.”
Controversy Over the Match Review Committee’s Decision
Adding to the controversy, the NRL’s match review committee only issued a Grade 2 charge against Ponga for the offence. This means he will be eligible to play this weekend for the Newcastle Knights if coach Justin Holbrook chooses to include him in the lineup.
New South Wales coach Laurie Daley, when questioned about the incident, refused to provide a direct answer. Instead, he opted to remain silent, suggesting that he would rather not comment on the matter.
