Former New South Wales State of Origin player Wade Graham has been involved in a heated exchange with rugby league journalist Brent Read over the hugely divisive send-off of Kalyn Ponga in game one of this year's series. The argument between the pair took place after the Blues completed the biggest comeback in State of Origin history, recovering from a 20-0 deficit to win 22-20.
Despite New South Wales receiving justified praise for their remarkable victory, the win has been overshadowed by referee Ashley Klein's decision to send Ponga off. Many fans from north of the border have condemned the decision, with Queenslander Read echoing the belief that Ponga's hit on Tolu Koula did not warrant him being sent off for the remainder of the game.
Read and Graham got into a blistering argument over the incident live on Triple M after the match. 'You can't escape the fact that game was won because Kalyn Ponga got sent off,' Read told Graham. The six-time Blues player was not about to take that comment lying down. 'But he deserved to be sent off,' Graham replied.
'OK, whether or not he deserved it, Wade, that's what changed the game,' Read continued. Graham then pointed to the similarity between Ponga's strike on the Sea Eagles centre and former NRL star Joseph Suaali'i's hit on Reece Walsh, which saw him sent off in game one of the 2024 series. 'Suaali'i got sent off two years ago,' the 35-year-old said.
But Read claimed the two incidents could not be compared. 'You cannot compare those two. Suaali'i was horizontal when he hit Reece Walsh,' he said. After the pair talked loudly over each other, Graham told Read to calm down as tensions appeared to escalate. 'It's a send-off, mate… calm down, buddy,' Graham said.
Read continued to blast the decision in a subsequent debate with 2014 Origin series winner and Triple M star Aaron Woods. 'Queensland would have won that game last night (had Ponga not been sent off),' Read said on Thursday morning. After the pair continued their back-and-forth, Woods tried to simplify the situation. 'As Billy Slater said, it is what it is, brother – you didn't win, mate,' the former Blue told Read.
