Why is Kalyn Ponga unavailable after Origin?
Why is Kalyn Ponga unavailable after Origin? After a subjective judgment from the Bunker during Origin II, Kalyn Ponga will miss the Newcastle Knights’ crucial match against the Titans.
The fullback’s club is allegedly upset that the Bunker’s verdict on his head-knock injury is what led him to miss this weekend’s match.
Bunker’s decision rules
Ponga was stopped in his tracks by a hard hit from Nathan Cleary late in Origin II as he attempted to engage NSW’s defensive line. The fullback hit the back of his head on the ground after being tackled by the Penrith star, who wrapped him up in a bear hug before throwing him to the ground.
Ponga stood up and continued playing for a while, but after being informed of an HIA, referee Ashley Klein stopped the game.
The Bunker deemed the Queenslander had concussion symptoms and removed him from the field for evaluation.
According to Bunker’s assessment, Ponga had sustained a level one concussion and was thus immediately removed from further participation in the game.
Category one concussions are the most serious kind and can be identified by symptoms like a player having trouble keeping their balance.
A player is required to sit out for a statutory seven days after being ruled out with a category one injury.
On the other hand, Paul Gallen has questioned this, calling it a “stupid” decision.
It’s ludicrous, he argued, for the Bunker to make a category one or two determination without first evaluating the player.
Surely the club doctor or the doctor on the field has the right to, or at least an opinion on, whether it’s a category one or two injuries.
Newcastle unhappy with the Bunker’s assessment
They were “stumbling around,” he said.
Cleary was not penalized for the hit, but Billy Slater said after Game 2 that he noticed Ponga struggling in the backfield after taking it.
When he fell to the ground, “he certainly received a bit of a shot to the head,” Slater added.
We made sure he got off the field immediately after he staggered and checked on him to make sure he was fine.
Just two weeks ago, against Penrith, Viliame Kikau slammed through Ponga’s attempted tackle and left him crumpled on the ground, leaving him with a severe concussion.