![\"Ponga](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/53a1477675dc79047020c21df9d6ecbb.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nKalyn Ponga appeared to apologise to coach Billy Slater as Queensland were left fuming over the fullback\u2019s controversial send-off in the series opener.<\/p>\n
In a night of high drama, Ponga escaped a suspension, but was given his marching orders by referee Ashley Klein in a moment that turned the game on its head before NSW recorded a famous 22-20 victory at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night. <\/p>\n
Ponga was sensationally sent off in the second half for a shoulder charge on NSW winger Tolu Koula.<\/p>\n
You can watch the Kalyn Ponga send off call in the player above<\/p>\n
Queensland had a 20-6 lead at the time of the send-off, but NSW charged home in the final 23 minutes. <\/p>\n
Ponga was seen by Channel 9 cameras after the game making his way to Slater to apologise. <\/p>\n
Slater\u2019s face was typically emotionless as he accepted Ponga\u2019s embrace. <\/p>\n
Ponga also spoke with other members of the Queensland coaching staff before he left the coaches box on his own. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cBilly was sitting in the coach\u2019s box and the class of Kalyn, he goes up for an apology,\u201d James Bracey said of Ponga\u2019s gesture on Channel Nine.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Queensland legend Darren Lockyer admitted Ponga would be feeling as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a nice gesture from Kalyn, in the end he is probably feeling like he cost Queensland the game,\u201d Darren Lockyer said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think from Queensland\u2019s perspective, the decision has been made, we can\u2019t change it and the game\u2019s gone. We\u2019re one-nil down and we are just going to have to dust ourselves off.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut like I said, there would be a lot of people in that change room right now perplexed about that all happened.\u201d<\/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
\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 two 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