Kalyn Ponga Tackling Technique Sends Queensland Down to 12 Men

Kalyn Ponga tackling technique ended with the Queensland fullback sent from the field for a hit on Tolu Koula in State of Origin I. Queensland then had only 12 men for the final 23 minutes, and New South Wales used that stretch to finish a comeback from 0-20 down.

Ponga and the 12-man stretch

Ashley Klein ordered Ponga from the field, with Chris Butler the bunker official who made the call. The removal left Queensland scrambling with 12 men while the match was still in reach at 6-20, and they did not take a simple two points at that stage.

James Tedesco summed up the finish after the match with a line that fitted the comeback window at Accor Stadium: “That’s what Origin’s all about. All the way to the 80th minute.”

New South Wales late control

New South Wales closed with more ball, 300 more run metres and five line breaks to two. Those numbers tracked the final 20 minutes, when Queensland were down a man and the Blues kept building pressure until the opener swung away from the Maroons.

Sam Walker made his State of Origin debut for New South Wales in the same game, while Nathan Cleary and Tedesco were part of the side that finished the job. Darren Lockyer was among those weighing the match from the commentary side as the sending off became the focal point of reaction in Queensland.

MCG on 17 June

The result leaves Queensland carrying the blow from a game they led 20-0 before halftime and still had in hand at 6-20. New South Wales left with the opener and the next Origin match scheduled for 17 June at the MCG, with the sending off still the play most likely to frame the response between now and then.