State of Origin referee Ashley Klein has been praised for his handling of Kalyn Ponga’s send off in the series opener as new details of his interaction with the Bunker were revealed.
Klein gave Ponga his marching orders after the Maroons fullback made contact with the head of Blues flyer Tolu Koula with Queensland leading 20-6 in the second half.
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The decision proved the turning point in the match as the Blues pulled off the biggest comeback in Origin history to win 22-20 in Sydney.
Klein’s decision split the rugby league world. Audio from Klein’s microphone appearing to show the veteran referee overruling the direction of the Bunker only intensified the debate around the decision.
On Thursday afternoon the NRL released a statement backing Klein.
“This incident involved clear and forceful shoulder-to-head and head-to-head contact with no mitigating factors,” NRL GM of elite competitions Graham Annesley said.
“The communication between the on-field referee and the Bunker official allowed for multiple views of the incident, live and on replay.
“Confirmation of direct, forceful shoulder-to-head contact through a shoulder charge action meant the referee decided the correct course of action was to dismiss the player.”
Code Sports rugby League reporter Brent Read then shed light on the interaction between Klein and Bunker official Chris Butler on NRL 360.
“The NRL has clarified that today and what the Bunker was saying was it’s at least a sin bin,” he said.
Colleague Michael Carryannis, meanwhile, “loved” that Klein took charge.
“He was clear and concise and he knew what he saw,” he said on NRL 360 on Thursday.
“The on-field referee is there to be guided by the Bunker. They’re not to be told what to do. “At the end of the day the decision rests with the on-field referee, and he got it right.
NRL 360 host Braith Anasta lauded Klein and urged more NRL referees to follow his lead.
“We say it all the time, we say that referees are the closest to it, why don’t they make the calls more,” Anasta said.
“We also say we want referees to have more feel for the game. He’s the boss not the Bunker.
“Here we are in one of the biggest moments we’ve seen in Origin and he’s backed himself.
Anasta then challenged co-host and Maroons legend Gorden Tallis to declare the send off was wrong.
“I’m not sure,” Tallis replied.
“Normally when it’s a send-off, it’s normally 90 or 100 per cent that guy has to leave the field.
“I think that we miss head clashes and they say accidental head clashes.”
Read and Carryannis, however, said reverse camera angles of the incident clearly showed Ponga’s shoulder hit Koula’s head.
“The problem was that wasn’t just a head clash. If that was just a head clash I’m with you and it wasn’t a send-off,” Read said.
“It’s the shoulder contact that kills him.”
“That was a clear shoulder to the head and I think it’s a send off every day of the week,” Carryannis added.
Tallis then lamented the impact the decision had on the contest.
“To ruin the product is not the referee’s call,” Carryannis responded.
“The health of Tolu Koula is more important than the NRL,” Read added.
“Protecting footballers’ heads in the age of concussion is more important than almost the game itself.”
Originally published as New Bunker revelation shows what ref Ashley Klein was told before sending off Kalyn Ponga
