Kalyn Ponga escapes sanction over shoulder charge on Michael Chee Kam

Kalyn Ponga has escaped suspension for a shoulder charge which is causing serious debate in the rugby league community. - Take our poll and have your say.

Michael Chee Kam of the Tigers receives attention after suffering a head knock during the Round 19 NRL match between the Newcastle Knights and the Wests Tigers at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Friday, July 26, 2019. (AAP Image/Darren Pateman) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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The NRL’s shoulder charge debate has erupted in more controversy with superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga escaping suspension for his tackle on Michael Chee Kam.

Ponga was not charged by the NRL’s match review committee after being sin binned in the final minutes of the crucial 28-26 loss to Wests Tigers.

He will not face the judiciary and will be free to play next week against Manly.

The match review committee deemed it to be accidental contact while the players were competing for the ball

NRL fans were divided over referee Henry Perenara’s tough stance, with Ponga appearing to make accidental contact with Chee Kam’s head during a desperate chase for a bouncing ball in goal.

Michael Chee Kam receives attention after suffering a head knock in a collision with Kalyn Ponga. Picture: AAP Image/Darren Pateman

It was the Knights’ fourth straight defeat after they blew an early 12-0 lead to trail 18-12 at halftime before going down in the shock loss in front of a big Newcastle home crowd.

But the Tigers’s courageous fightback in Robbie Farah’s 300th milestone was overshadowed post match by the contentious Ponga sin binning.

Newcastle coach Nathan Brown labelled it “a very stiff decision” and also claimed “I don’t think there is a cleaner player playing the game”.

The counter argument is that accidental or not it still left Chee Kam in a sickening state and it is the responsibility of a defender not to make contact with the head.

Chee Kam was eventually taken from the field on a medi-cab.

Brown claimed Ponga did not attempt a ‘shoulder charge’.

“Kalyn is playing at fullback and he has got to make a play,” Brown said.

“I think he is a bit unfortunate.

Officials make a call for the stretcher. Picture: AAP Image/Darren Pateman

“I don’t think he tried to make a shoulder charge. I think he was trying to make a play for the ball.”

Tigers coach Michael Maguire also said he thought Ponga’s contact was accidental.

Newcastle are desperately clinging to eighth place on 18 competition points and could be out of the top eight by the end of the round if either Brisbane or New Zealand win their matches.

The Knights are also on equal competition points with Cronulla and the Tigers with six rounds of the regular season remaining.

Originally published as Kalyn Ponga escapes sanction over shoulder charge on Michael Chee Kam