Maroons coach Billy Slater was very calm as he headed into the post-match press conference following his team’s shocking loss after Kalyn Ponga’s send off.
“It is what it is,” Slater said. “I haven’t got any problems with it.”
“He feels he’s let his team down, but those things happen in games. They happen really quick. I’ve been in his position, I know how hard it is. Spur of the moment, it’s wet out there, things happen. I thought it was a courageous effort from our players. I’m heartbroken for them – the effort they put in. They played with so much heart.”
Queensland captain Cameron Munster said he initially thought it was head-on-head contact, but that he had to accept referee Ashley Klein’s decision.
“I thought it might have been head-on-head obviously with the split on KP’s ear, but the referee in the bunker saw it differently so at the end of the day, the rules are rules and unfortunately, there’s a bit of force to his head so I’m not too sure,” Munster said.
“We fought our best and unfortunately, it wasn’t enough tonight… When you have 12 men, it takes the gas out of it.”
