A shattered Kalyn Ponga has admitted he feels responsible for Queensland’s State of Origin collapse after his dramatic send-off late in the series opener.
Ponga fronted the media with blood dripping from his ear after the Maroons’ 22-20 loss to NSW at Accor Stadium, where he became just the seventh player sent off in Origin history.
The Newcastle superstar has avoided a ban for the shoulder charge on Tolu Koula, instead able to pay a $6900 fine for the shoulder charge that shaped the match.
But he felt pain enough watching on as the Maroons surrendered a 22-6 lead, as the Blues pulled off the biggest comeback in Origin history.
‘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 s**t happens.
The moment that turned the match on its head: Kalyn Ponga smashes into NSW star Tolu Koula in the second half of game one on Wednesday night
Ponga pointed to a cut on his ear as he tried to convince referee Ashley Klein that the impact was a head clash as he was sent off in one of Origin’s most divisive decisions
‘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.
‘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 for Ponga, NSW’s match winner came with opposite number James Tedesco leaping over stand-in Maroons fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Queensland now need to win in Melbourne and Brisbane to retain the Origin shield, after they also came back from 1-0 down to win the series last year.
Referee Ashley Klein’s decision to send Ponga off will go down as one of the most seismic calls from an official in Origin history.
The fact the fullback has avoided a ban with a grade-two charge will raise several questions over the incident.
Queensland argued on the 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 (pictured) made the call despite officials in the bunker telling him the hit was only worth 10 minutes in the sin bin
Ponga and his Queensland teammates looked headed for a comfortable win as they smashed the Blues off the park in the first half
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 as a result of the 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.
And he also revealed after the match he did not realise 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 fulltime 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 said.
‘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.’
