A shattered Kalyn Ponga has admitted he feels responsible for Queensland's State of Origin collapse after his dramatic send off late in the series opener.
Ponga fronted the media with blood dripping from his ear after the Maroons' 22-20 loss to NSW at Accor Stadium, where he became just the seventh player sent off in Origin history.
The Newcastle superstar has avoided a ban for the shoulder charge on Tolu Koula, instead able to pay a $6900 fine for the shoulder charge that shaped the match.
But he felt pain enough watching on as the Maroons surrendered a 20-6 lead, as the Blues pulled off the biggest comeback in Origin history.
"I'm not proud of it," Ponga said.
"The boys had to work a lot harder because of me being off the field so that is something I am not proud of. But shit happens.
