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Damning details from Kalyn Ponga and Kurt Mann’s toilet ejection emerge

New details surrounding two NRL stars being kicked out of a toilet cubicle have emerged and it’s bad news for one excuse offered up.

Kalyn Ponga, Kurt Mann update
Kalyn Ponga, Kurt Mann update

New details surrounding Kalyn Ponga and Kurt Mann’s ejection from a toilet cubicle have emerged on Wednesday.

A video began circulating of the pair, showing both men being asked to step out of the cubicle. Both walk out, fully-clothed with drinks in hand.

“Oh, that’s a surprise,” the security guard can be heard saying as the two men walk out.

The four-second clip is captioned: “Ponga getting done in the toilet.”

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Now the club has claimed the pair were only inside the Delany Hotel in Newcastle on Saturday night for 25 minutes, according to Fox Sports’ James Hooper.

Ponga and Mann reportedly arrived at 10:45pm before leaving at 11:10pm.

Ponga’s father Andre told The Daily Telegraph that the Newcastle duo were in the toilet together due to illness.

“He made an exciting house purchase Saturday and celebrated with a few mates drinking,” he said.

“Sick in the toilet and his mate went in to help him.”

That excuse, after being heavily mocked by fans and journalists, is now also out the window with staff at the venue reportedly telling the club both weren’t intoxicated.

Mann and Ponga were asked to leave the toilet.
Mann and Ponga were asked to leave the toilet.
Both were fully clothed and emerged holding drinks.
Both were fully clothed and emerged holding drinks.

The pair were subjected to drug testing by the NRL on Tuesday.

“The NRL have acted on the investigation that they are currently undertaking in regards to the two Newcastle players Kalyn Ponga and Kurt Mann,” Paul Kent said on NRL 360.

“The NRL sent their drug testers up there today under the illicit and hazardous drugs policy and both players have undergone drug tests today (Tuesday).

“It is confidential at the moment and the results will be confidential. But clearly the NRL is acting on the evidence they have already received.

“It is a drug test for illicit drugs. I don’t think it is performance enhancing. I think it is social drugs.

Questions regarding Ponga’s leadership have been levelled following the incident with many pondering why the captain was out drinking while his team was playing.

“It is an issue for the club because he was out on the drink when the club was actually playing on television, so the care factor is the big part,” Kent said.

“Let’s get past the drugs part of it. I don’t think that is an indication of the bad culture within the Knights specifically because I think it is a problem that exists at just about every NRL club in pockets. Not throughout every club, but in pockets of every NRL club there is this going on.

“But the fact that the captain of the club, who is paid a million dollars a year has such little care factor that rather than sit at home and watch and see how they perform, he is out on the sauce.

“That is the issue. That is the culture we speak of that has got to be addressed. That is where it has got to start now with this investigation as the lighting rod for now is the day.”

New details of the incident emerged Wednesday.
New details of the incident emerged Wednesday.

There are reported concerns within the Knights organisation about Ponga’s investment in the club, as revealed by The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio.

“There is definitely an underlying sentiment within the Newcastle Knights on whether Kalyn Ponga is 1000 per cent committed to this footy club,” Riccio said.

“1000 percent committed to his teammates and what leadership looks like.

“There is genuine sentiment about how do we get the best out of Kalyn Ponga?

“The Knights have got concerns that Kalyn Ponga delivers an almost man-of-the-match performance for the Queensland State of Origin team, but doesn’t deliver a similar performance for the Knights.”

Originally published as Damning details from Kalyn Ponga and Kurt Mann’s toilet ejection emerge

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/damning-details-from-kalyn-ponga-and-kurt-manns-toilet-ejection-emerge/news-story/e938b79baf50e111f9cba94c67540fd6