Kalyn Ponga Apologises to Billy Slater After Controversial Send-Off
Kalyn Ponga, the Queensland rugby league star, was seen apologising to Billy Slater in the Maroons coaching box after receiving a controversial send-off during the State of Origin opener. The incident occurred in the second half when Ponga tackled NSW winger Tolu Koula with his shoulder, resulting in a high shot that led to a red card. This decision by referee Ashley Klein sparked significant backlash from league greats Andrew Johns and Cameron Smith.
Klein appeared to overrule Bunker official Chris Butler, deeming the high shot worthy of a send-off. Koula was ruled out of the rest of the game after failing an HIA (Head Injury Assessment). This moment proved to be a pivotal turning point as the Blues managed to come from behind and secure a thrilling 22-20 victory. The winning try was scored by recalled fullback James Tedesco at the death, following a Nathan Cleary bomb.
Immediately after the game, cameras captured Ponga making a beeline up to the Maroons coaching box to apologise to Slater in a classy post-match gesture. The Queensland coaching staff all looked dejected in the box, and Ponga made a point to extend his remorse to them one by one.
“Billy was sitting in the coach’s box and the class of Kalyn, he goes up for an apology,” James Bracey said on Nine’s coverage. Maroons legend Darren Lockyer admitted Ponga would have been gutted to feel like he had let his team and the state down.
“That’s a nice gesture from Kalyn, in the end he is probably feeling like he cost Queensland the game,” Lockyer said. “I think from Queensland’s perspective, the decision has been made, we can’t change it and the game’s gone. We’re one-nil down and we are just going to have to dust ourselves off. But like I said, there would be a lot of people in that change room right now perplexed about what happened.”
Criticism from Rugby League Legends
NRL legends have been vocal in their criticism of the send-off decision. Legendary former NSW No.7 Andrew Johns was among those to slam the decision by Klein to overrule the Bunker. “The last couple of years we have all been disappointed with the influence of the Bunker, but this time the Bunker wanted to come in and give it 10 in the bin,” he said. “The Ponga decision, everyone knows I bleed blue but that was outrageous.”
Lockyer also took aim at the send-off, claiming it was the “turning point” and the “reason” Queensland lost. “Credit to NSW, but there’ll be a lot of people north of the border that will struggle to accept that decision,” he said.
Former Maroons captain Cameron Smith was even more critical, arguing that it was Ponga’s head – and not his shoulder – that made high contact with Koula. “It’s a head clash but you see the left arm and how he tucks it and doesn’t try to wrap, that’s the first indicator for the officials,” he said. Smith insisted there was “no way” Ponga should have been sent from the field though.
Ponga’s Remorse and Consequences
Despite avoiding a suspension, Ponga did face consequences for the high shot. Koula will now be ruled out of Manly’s next two games with a mandatory 11-day stand down after entering the NRL’s concussion protocols. Ponga avoided a suspension but did cop a fine from the match review committee on Wednesday night.
However, the Maroons No.1 said he was “not proud” when discussing the contentious send-off post-game. “At the end of day it was my action that forced the boys to work extra hard. So there is a level of responsibility there,” Ponga said. “For it to come down to the last minute and a half, it’s pretty heartbreaking. I was the reason it happened.”
