Kalyn Ponga was still in his playing gear when he walked up to the Queensland coaches box on Wednesday night to apologise to Billy Slater and the rest of the Maroons coaching staff.
The superstar fullback was sent off by referee Ashley Klein in a moment that was described as "remarkable" and "outrageous" and turned the State of Origin series opener in New Souths Wales' favour at Accor Stadium.
Queensland was leading 20-6 at the time Ponga was marched for a shoulder charge on Tolo Koula, and the Blues ended up winning the contest 22-20 thanks to a stunning late James Tedesco try.
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Slater later said the gun No.1 put the blame squarely on himself.
"He's OK, he obviously feels he's let his team down, but those things happen in games," the coach said.
"That happened really quick. I've played that position, I know how hard it is and sour of the moment, it's wet out there, things happen. I thought it was a courageous effort from our players, I'm heartbroken."
Nine's coverage showed vision of Ponga entering the Queensland coaches box and shaking hands with Slater and assistant coaches Ben Te'o and Matt Ballin, seemingly apologising for his act.
"That's a nice gesture from Kalyn. He is probably feeling like he's cost his team the game," Maroons legend Darren Lockyer said on Nine.
While Klein thought Ponga's shoulder connected with Koula's head, the match review committee did not see fit to suspend the Knights captain.
Ponga was offered a 23 per cent fine of his $30,000 match fee if he takes the early plea for a grade two shoulder charge.
The gun Maroons fullback was given his marching orders with 23 minutes left for high contact on Blues winger Koula who ultimately failed his HIA.
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Speaking to media after learning of his sanction from the match review committee, Ponga said he was glad to avoid suspension, but was remorseful for the incident.
"Yeah, happy with that decision [not getting suspended]," he said.
"Obviously not proud of it. The boys had to work a lot harder with me being off the field, but shit happens. I haven't looked at it yet, but in the moment it's hard to know.
"I didn't even know it was a send off when I left [the field]. I thought it was 10 minutes and they might have assessed me for a head knock."
Ponga's send off came after Koula had broken the line and was tackled from behind low by Sam Walker before Ponga came in leading with his shoulder.
"This will be a sin bin at least," Andrew Johns said on Nine.
Blues and Maroons players then clashed aggressively as Koula laid on the ground concussed.
Ponga was seen clutching at his own head in the aftermath with replays appearing to show it was a head clash but Cameron Smith noted the fullback would be in trouble regardless.
"It's a head clash but you see the left arm and how he tucks it and doesn't try to wrap, that's the first indicator for the officials," he said.
Klein was then heard saying to the Bunker it was a shoulder charge to the head and his belief it was a send off.
"No way," Smith said.
Koula eventually rose to his feet and left the field with a bleeding cut.
Klein could be heard speaking and saying "I get that mate … there's no attempt to tackle, I know what you're saying but this is an illegal play," appearing to overrule the Bunker official who was understood to be advising Klein to put Ponga in the sin bin.
The referee then brought Munster and Ponga together before sending the star Queensland fullback off. Both Maroons pointed towards blood behind the ear of Ponga in protest.
"That is remarkable, absolutely remarkable," caller Mat Thompson said.
Cameron Smith added "that's a huge call" as the cameras showed NSW coach Laurie Daley gesturing for Ponga to get off the field.
Johns' confusion hadn't ended in the aftermath.
"The last couple of years we have all been disappointed with the influence of the Bunker, but this time the Bunker wanted to come in and give it 10 in the bin," he said.
"… The Ponga decision, everyone knows I bleed blue but that was outrageous."
The fall of the Maroons then came with Ponga off the field. NSW continued to make the most of the one-man advantage, going on to win 22-20 and bombing numerous tries during that time too.
"Incredible comeback but that's going to be commentary after this one, they're going to be talking about the sending off of Kalyn Ponga," Johns said.
That commentary didn't take too long with Maroons selector Darren Lockyer stunned by the decision.
"I'm still in shock by the Kalyn Ponga decision … that's the turning point, we lose the game off the back of that," he said on Nine's coverage.
"Credit to NSW, but there'll be a lot of people north of the border that will struggle to accept that decision."
Maroons coach Billy Slater didn't offer much in his press conference, saying "it is what it is".
"We can argue all we want … I haven't got any problems with it," he said.
Daley replied "I'd rather not say" when asked for his thoughts.
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