‘Game is becoming a joke’: Kalyn Ponga high tackle drama savaged

A series of questionable high tackle calls in the Panthers win over the Knights have left NRL fans fuming, with the hit being called the “tackle of the week”.

Ponga was baffled by the call. Photo: Fox Sports

The Penrith Panthers have moved a win outside the minor premiership after surviving a Newcastle Knights scare at Bluebet Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The 22-14 result came down to the final 90 seconds after a penalty goal finally shut the door on the Knights.

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It was anything but comfortable for the Panthers, who were locked up at 14-all before Nathan Cleary barged over Kalyn Ponga and Jayden Brailey to break the deadlock nine minutes from time.

But fans were left far from happy after several questionable high tackles throughout the game.

Penrith looked to have opened up a 20-12 lead when Brian To’o scooped up an errant Kalyn Ponga pass to score, but the Bunker rightly intervened after the Knights fullback was whacked high by Izack Tago.

The contact looked forceful and worthy of a sin bin, but the Panthers centre was only placed on report as the Knights went downfield and then tied things up with a penalty goal on the back of another high shot.

Even before the ultimately matchwinning try to Cleary, the Panthers were piggybacked out of their own end by a lazy but low impact arm from Daniel Saifiti.

It gave the Panthers the field position for Cleary to barge his way over.

However, the drama wasn’t over after Ponga was pinged for a high shot in the back-field on the Panthers’ Izack Tago.

It was a strong hit from Ponga that flattened Tago, with a delayed call from referee Adam Gee.

Ponga was baffled however and replays showed why, with Tago slipping as he reached the Knights fullback as the hit went under the Panther’s arms.

On Fox League, Cooper Cronk said: “I don’t even think that’s worth a penalty. That's not a penalty.”

Warren Smith added: “That’s all ball and chest, a terrific tackle from Kalyn Ponga.”

He added it was a “bonus set” for the Panthers.

After the set ended with the ball passed into touch, Cronk said: “Fair result considering it shouldn’t have been a penalty in the first place.”

Fans were far from happy with the decision, with some lamenting what had happened to the game.

Journalist John Dean tweeted: “That Ponga tackle on Tago wasn’t high at all – and Tago was falling!”

One fan posted: “If some of these ‘high contact’ penalties keep happening in #NRL just be done with it and join it with Touch Footy. The game is becoming a joke.

“Some of these high tackle penalties are an utter embarrassment to the #NRL The refs are so conditioned and scared they will call anything high.”

He got him under the arms. Photo: Fox Sports

There was no contact to the head. Photo: Fox Sports

Ponga wasn't the only one confused. Photo: Fox Sports

Another commented: “Bro I don’t even like Ponga, but calling that a high tackle penalty is insanity.”

A third said: “On second viewing, Kalyn Ponga probably does deserve a nomination for Youi Tackle of the Week.”

Another wrote: “That's a great tackle from Ponga & gets pinged. What a joke our game has become.”

Post-match, Ponga said he was surprised as anyone.

“I think I got him around the chest, but at the end of the day the referee made the call,” Ponga said.

The result sees the Panthers move two points behind the Storm on top of the ladder and it appears to be a two-horse race for the minor premiership with the teams playing each other in round 24.

After a weekend of upsets looked to have claimed another victim on Sunday afternoon with scores level approaching the final 10 minutes until Cleary did what he always does and won the game with a special play that only he could produce.

The Panthers celebrate the victory. Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Having only had three runs up until that point, the star halfback took advantage of a quick play the ball as he sped towards the line, put on a step and fought through four would-be defenders to break the deadlock and Newcastle hearts.

He had no trouble slotting the conversion and then put the Panthers eight points clear when he was clipped high at the death to help the hosts escape with a narrow win.

“That’s what you want from your playmakers,” Ivan Cleary said, with rookie Isaiah Iongi coming up with some big plays on debut.

“We struggled to get much momentum at all today, but I thought we stuck at it and moved the ball when we could.

“That was a big play by Nat at that moment.”

With Martin Gabor, NewsWire

Originally published as ‘Game is becoming a joke’: Kalyn Ponga high tackle drama savaged