Gruesome Kalyn Ponga injury hints at truth behind decisive State of Origin incident

The extent of Kalyn Ponga’s injury from Origin 1 has been revealed, and it hints at the truth behind the incident.

Kalyn Ponga suffered a gruesome injury in his clash with Tolu Koula in Origin 1.

The fullback sustained a deep cut to his left ear in the incident which saw him sent off.

Ponga bled from the ear immediately after the clash of heads and he pointed to his ear as he protested referee Ashley Klein’s decision.

Klein’s call caused huge division amongst fans with many defending Ponga by arguing the tackle was only a clash of heads.

Kalyn Ponga suffered a nasty injury to his ear in Origin 1

But the ref disagreed as he told the Bunker: “It’s a shoulder charge to the head. That’s a send off.

“It’s a shoulder charge to the head. That’s a send off.”

He was then heard saying: “I get that, but he’s hit him direct to the head.

“I get that mate, but he’s hit him in the head there with no attempt to tackle. I know what you’re saying, but it’s an illegal play.”

It has since been revealed that the Bunker informed Klein that Ponga’s tackle was only worthy of a sin bin – a viewpoint many fans agree with.

Ponga apologised to boss Billy Slater after being given his marching orders.

He was patched up by Queensland physios and was fit to return for Newcastle Knights on Saturday.

Ponga played a starring role as the Knights beat Parramatta Eels 28-22.

And after the game he revealed the challenges he faced returning to the field.

“It was more mentally (demanding),” Ponga said after playing his second game in four days.

Ponga was sent off for his tackle on Tolu Koula. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

“Physically, I actually felt pretty good out there, which is a credit to our staff, the way they handled the last 48 hours, and it’s all mentally like the build-up of Origin, obviously the way Origin unfolded, and then to sort of park it and mentally prepare for another game.

”I think now that I’m older, I’m probably better at doing it, but yeah, it’s all mental.

”I was excited to get back around the boys, around my teammates. Probably selfishly, I wanted to play with my mates. I didn’t want to sit on the sidelines. I wanted to be out there.”

Source: https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/gruesome-kalyn-ponga-injury-hints-at-truth-behind-decisive-state-of-origin-incident/news-story/bcac07c52e284df1b1e98787d91f06fa