Kalyn Ponga has a shoulder charge problem. NSW will be hoping history repeats

Kalyn Ponga, sent off for a shoulder charge in Origin I, wasn’t suspended. The punishment of effectively losing the game for Queensland was enough. But was it enough of a deterrent?

During Newcastle’s clash with Melbourne on Friday night, Ponga launched another shoulder charge in the last line of defence. He missed, so again he went unsanctioned.

As there have been no punishments or behaviour change, NSW can hope history repeats: the Queensland superstar might, at any minute, go shoulder first and get himself sent off again.

In their loss to the Titans, the most fascinating game of the round, the Broncos were again a bunch of desperate individuals all trying to produce the grandstand moments.

Ezra Mam, reprieved from his midweek sacking, played like a man possessed – until, in the last minute, he played like a man possessed by madness, shunning a huge right-side overlap to go for the miracle grubber on the left.

Brisbane seem so bedazzled by their 2025 miracles, they’re just wanting to play the last 20 minutes of the grand final every week. To be fair, however, sometimes the Hail Mary comes off, and on Saturday it was the Titans’ Keano Kini with a chip and chase, Phil Blake-style, producing the winning try.

It is difficult for the Broncos to calm down and play steady percentage football when this happens to them. But it’s also a big red flashing alarm for NSW in Origin II: eventually, the odds will spin Reece Walsh’s way, and those near misses are going to stick.

An impromptu brass band was playing Eagle Rock walking up Pittwater Road, Brookvale Oval had been renamed Foz Pines Park and Kieran Foran’s face replaced Colonel Sanders on the chicken boxes. The Fozball revolution continued on a cold and windy Thursday night as Manly completed a stress-free win over a disappointing South Sydney.

Off the field, Fozball is still in the startled joyous disbelief phase, given that Manly were wooden spoon contenders as recently as April. The enthusiasm on the northern beaches is a viral infection.

One thing, though. Across the NRL, the connection between fans and team gets snapped clean at full-time. Instead of engaging with the so-called lifeblood of the game, players are swamped by staff, media, hangers-on, whatever.

The fans go home. How about the NRL allow five minutes, after full-time, for the players to share some love before they do their media, sponsor and internal stuff? Big wins should finish with a moment of connection, not just a dribbling away.

The Dolphins’ glamour backline of 2026 has given something of a retro revival to the position of ce