![\"Ponga](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/53a1477675dc79047020c21df9d6ecbb.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nKalyn Ponga has incredibly escaped suspension for his high shot on Tolu Koula that turned State of Origin Game 1 on its head.<\/p>\n
Ponga was sensationally sent off in the second half for a shoulder charge on NSW winger Tolu Koula.<\/p>\n
It appeared to be a head clash that warranted a sin bin, but referee Ashley Klein was adamant Ponga deserved to be sent off, and he gave the Queensland fullback his marching orders in a stunning call.<\/p>\n
You can watch the Kalyn Ponga send off call in the player above<\/p>\n
The send-off completely shifted the momentum of the game in NSW\u2019s favour, and despite the Blues blowing several tries they came from 20-6 down to snatch the game away from Queensland at the death, with an incredible James Tedesco try.<\/p>\n
The decision to send Ponga off arguably cost Queensland the game leaving Maroons fans furious.<\/p>\n
And in a staggering decision just before midnight on Wednesday, the NRL Match Review Committee decided not to hand Ponga a suspension for his shoulder charge on Koula.<\/p>\n
Ponga was charged with a grade two shoulder charge.<\/p>\n
A grade two charge would ordinarily have seen Ponga banned for two games in the NRL, but a change to the judicial code in rep games means the superstar fullback only has to pay 23 per cent of his match fee with an early guilty plea \u2013 a $6900 fine. <\/p>\n
If he is to fight the charge and lose that will rise to a third of his match fees.<\/p>\n
The decision left the NRL world stunned.<\/p>\n
\u201cInsanity. That now become the precedent for every head contact, shoulder charge moving forward,\u201d one fan said in response to the Match Review Committee\u2019s findings.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIs this is the first known case in NRL history where a player was sent off for a shoulder charge with direct head contact and then escaped without a suspension?\u201d another stunned supporter wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019ll do me. What a joke,\u201d a third added.<\/p>\n
The fine means Ponga is free to run out for the Knights on Saturday against the Eels.<\/p>\n
However, adding to fan fury is the news that Koula will enter the NRL\u2019s concussion protocols with an associated 11-day stand-down period.<\/p>\n
It means he will miss the Sea Eagles\u2019 next 2 games, as they next play two days and nine days from now.<\/p>\n
While other angry fans pointed to the fact that the last Origin send off before Ponga\u2019s brought about a four-match suspension.<\/p>\n
Joseph Suaalii\u2019s late hit on Reece Walsh in the eighth minute of the 2024 State of Origin series opener saw the former Rooster slapped with a hefty ban.<\/p>\n
Queenslanders\u2019 fury at Ponga send off<\/p>\n
Predictably, the Kalyn Ponga send-off has not gone down well with Queenslanders. There\u2019s no doubt Ashley Klein\u2019s decision in the 57th minute was the turning point of the game and shifted the momentum in NSW\u2019s favour as Queensland had to defend a man down.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m still in shock over that Ponga decision, that\u2019s the turning point, there will be a lot of people north of the border that struggle with that decision,\u201d Darren Lockyer said on Channel 9 post-game.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrad (Fittler) and I on the sideline, we could hear the thump. I heard the noise and it was sickening from a distance.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Ashley Klein, at the start, when he first (saw) it and heard it, I think he always had this in his mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I am surprised at, when it went up to the bunker and they\u2019ve reviewed, the bunker was suggesting that it was only 10 minutes. But Ashley Klein didn\u2019t want a bar of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, Brad Fittler argued that as the defender, Ponga had a responsibility not to lead with his shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have full responsibility (when defending)\u2026he had an opportunity to calm down, to slow down,\u201d Fittler said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis last action was going into the tackle. His shoulder hit his shoulder and it ended up being a head clash. But the big thing is, whether he should be sent off or not, as a defender you have got the responsibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re going to come into tackles in those situations, you have got full responsibility. You need to be on the negative, on the downside, rather than being aggressive. That\u2019s why he sent him off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Post-match Billy Slater was asked for his opinion and he simply replied, \u201cit is what it is\u201d.<\/p>\n
The coach was probed more, before he said he had no problem with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can argue all we want, but it is what it is … I haven\u2019t got any problems with it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
While NSW coach Laurie Daley declined to comment on if he thought it was a send off.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d rather not say,\u201d he replied to the question post-match.<\/p>\n