Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga has escaped a ban by the match review committee for a shoulder charge on Wests Tigers' Michael Chee Kam.
Ponga was sin-binned late in the contest after a collision with Chee Kam caused the second-rower to get stretchered off the field and sent to hospital.
“I was a bit surprised. I don’t know what the refs wanted me to do there, maybe let them score, I’m not too sure,” Ponga told AAP.
“Obviously he was heading for the ball. I dived with the intention to bat it at first and then obviously saw that he was right there and braced for impact.
“I did hit his head which I’m obviously concerned about.
“But at the end of the day, I gotta shield myself as well. Straight after he looked in all sorts. It was pretty bad. I hope he’s all right now.”
JWH should have copped 8 weeks for his shot on Ponga but is a protected species at the roosters
Not surprised by this news. As if the golden boy of the NRL will be suspended? Talk about hypocrisy?