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He was thinking "what would Billy do when a winger was flying to the tryline?"
International State of Origin 2026
- Thread starter WahsaurusRex
- Start date
He was thinking "what would Billy do when a winger was flying to the tryline?"
Personally, I think the head-clash did the majority of the damage, but there was obviously still shoulder contact and Ponga didn't even attempt to wrap the arm.
It's got all the key identifiers of a shoulder charge.
However much I don't like the result, Klein made the right call.
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WAH MAN
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Your point is valid. I return simply to
I don't like Klein.
I accept your conclusion.
Evil_Mush
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Was definitely a bit reckless of Ponga, they were both nearly on their knees at the point of contact so not your typical 'shoulder charge' positioning. Had Koula remained upright would've been a typical hit-you-over-the-sideline type of hit that you see all the time without head contact/penalty.
Oh well, congrats NSW for the 'greatest comeback in Origin history'
Oh well, congrats NSW for the 'greatest comeback in Origin history'
JaggedJ
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I can only guess but I think he wanted to use the wet ground to force Koula to slide into touch rather than getting to play the ball. That's why he didn't let up on the force. Got it horribly wrong though and Walker's dead weight probably would have prevented Koula from sliding anyway.
We all know Pongas bleeding ear was from the national anthem rendition
That’s such a terrible technique by Ponga
Reminds me of Rocco when he did something similar and knocked himself out with a head clash
i'd forgetten about that - what the fuck was that ? caterwalling country crisis core?
Guy will be stoked the Ponga send off will be taking the heat off him- he was copping a roasting online prior to that
It was a good hate watch. As a 'neutral' I can only be cynical about this series now - like many others, I have sepia tinted good nostalgic feelings about origins of times past. But year after year in the modern era this game proves to be utterly farcical and a shadow of its former incarnation - there's no going back either, because despite complaints on the fringes the modern league game is far far superior than the sort of stuff that was dished up in the 80s and 90s - there's definitely a good argument for 2026 being a moment of enshitification via the modified 6 again rules, but even this version is a better all round spectacle than games from the late 80s. So why is Origin so bad now? I think it's something to do with the quick turn around on selection and team dynamics - the modern game is so tilted towards cohesive team play in both attack and defence that you can't possibly put a good footy team together in a week or two even when that team is made up of the 'best of the best' from the league... it takes a pre-season to be connected at the sort of level which allows for slick variations around block shapes and the defence of them.
So in order for Origin to remain relevant you sort of need the kind of controversy a send off like last night induces, cos you're not getting it from the game play. The result is it all starts verging on kayfabe and farce... btw 100% agree the send off was warranted - what teh hell was Ponga thinking? terrible technique with little apparent reward even if he got it 'right'. blah blah blah
Emerald
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"I don’t like Klein" is in my opinion a very valid viewpoint. Probably the best one to have about this whole thing. In view of Klein's 4 out of 7 sendings off over all Origin matches, his 8-0 penalty count last year in game 2, and his reputation for destroying the natural flow of a game by blowing his fvkkin whistle, it’s all too clear that the man is officious to the extreme and the game would be far better off without him.Your point is valid. I return simply to
I don't like Klein.
In this instance, he wouldn’t allow the match review official, who had access to and had reviewed all available angles of view, to overrule him. He felt that his spur of the moment at-a-distance view gave him the better basis for judgment. So he’s a fvkkwit.
The game was completely turned around, which is something fvkkwit also has a reputation for. There's no two ways about it, the man is a bastard. If the NRL wants to let games go with the flow, they’ll retire him immediately.
/rant
CWC
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So he overruled the bunker after multiple replays to get a send off?
Imagine refs doing that to TMOs after try/no try decision made "No try" on the big screen, GF last play, ref: "F it" *blows whistle for try anyway*
Its not an overrule. Qld fans simply dont know rugby league rules. The bunker can advise or recommend but the onfield ref makes the call on sinbins/sent off etc.So he overruled the bunker after multiple replays to get a send off?
"No try" on the big screen, GF last play, ref: "F it" *blows whistle for try anyway*
Atleast qld was able to play more than 7 mins with a full team.
They're two completely different situations.
Tries are automatically handed over to the Bunker for confirmation. The ref can't change the decision on a try after it's been made.
In the event of foul play, the Bunker can point out info that might have been missed, but ultimately it's up to the on field ref.
If you think about the logistics of officiating a live game, it makes sense.
CWC
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CWC
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Are you saying Adam Gee and Ashley & Martin Klein don't have it in them to generate max drama that last for the rest of our lifetime?
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