Kalyn Ponga has been cleared of any wrongdoing as his tackling technique again comes under the microscope, just nine days after he was sent off in Origin 1 for a shoulder charge.
During Newcastle’s two-point loss to the Storm on Friday night, in the first half, Ponga came across in cover defence and saved a try with what appeared to be a shoulder charge on Will Warbrick.
Ponga led with his shoulder, just as he did in Origin 1 when he clashed with NSW star Tolu Koula.
Unlike in Origin, Ponga didn’t hit Warbrick in the head, but there was again no attempt to wrap his arm.
It wasn’t picked up by Ashley Klein live nor by the Bunker, and play was allowed to carry on.
Ponga wasn’t placed on report but there was a belief he could be charged by the match review committee.
However, on Saturday morning, the NRL confirmed he had not been charged, meaning he is free to play for the Maroons in under a fortnight’s time.
However, his tackling technique has been heavily criticised, with NRL great Greg Alexander declaring the Newcastle No. 1 has a problem with his technique.
“Kalyn Ponga definitely has a technique problem with his tackling. It looked very similar to what happened last Wednesday night, but he made contact with the ball,” Greg Alexander said.
“If that makes any contact with the head, he’s absolutely in trouble,” Cooper Cronk added.
”He has tucked the arm. He needs to be cautioned about the way he goes about that because look, technically it probably is a penalty, but it wasn’t just because he made contact with the ball.
“So he’s got some challenges when doing cover defence Kalyn Ponga.”
In a huge scare to the Knights, Ponga was also seen in pain, clutching at his shoulder late on.
But speaking post-match, Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook eased fears of a potential injury, stating he believes it is just a burner.
“He’s real sore, so he’s getting some work on it now,” he said.
“KP’s a real sore neck, but I think it might just be one of those burners.”
Originally published as Kalyn Ponga learns Origin fate for shoulder charge as glaring ‘problem’ called out