- NRL superstar Kalyn Ponga won’t live by a slip of the tongue
- Produced an X-rated response in a post-game interview on Channel 9
- Ponga and presenter Danika Mason quickly composed themselves
NRL superstar Kalyn Ponga left footy fans in stitches after an awkward slip of the tongue moments after the 22-20 defeat of Newcastle on Thursday night.
During a live TV postgame with Channel Nine’s Danika Mason, the Knights captain spoke about dealing with the pain after a hip injury.
“Did you think you might have to leave… or were you determined to stay?” Mason asked.
“I never intended to pull myself away from it,” he replied matter-of-factly.
Ponga quickly realized his potential X-rated choice of words, hilariously adding “that sounds a bit weird” before smiling for the camera.
NRL superstar Kalyn Ponga left footy fans in stitches after an awkward slip of the tongue on live TV following the 22-20 defeat of Newcastle on Thursday night
Speaking to Channel Nine’s Danika Mason after the match, the Knights captain produced a faux pas for the ages
Mason somehow kept her composure as the pair laughed together about the faux pas.
Meanwhile, Ponga’s coach Adam O’Brien was seething after his team were denied a penalty at the death – which, if converted, would have sent the match into a golden point of extra time.
Trailing 22-20, Ponga raced down the right side but was stopped by his opponent in Joey Manu, with Fetailaga Pauga then pinning the full-back as he tried to play the ball at speed.
The incident slowed the ruck enough for the Roosters defense to run back to the side – but it was not ruled a professional foul.
‘I sympathize with you. These fans know football,” O’Brien said.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever heard a stadium so frustrated, never heard such cheering at the end of a match. There must be something in it.’
O’Brien felt the referee was following a ‘theme’ and was also unhappy with the decision not to award Knights center Dane Gagai a try due to an apparent obstruction in the second half.
Decoy runner Dylan Lucas took Rooster’s five-eighth Luke Keary out of play, but O’Brien felt the visitors still had a chance to tackle Gagai.
‘It’s two against two, a missed tackle from outside. Again, that’s another one [contentious call],’ he said.
“I’m not taking anything away from the Roosters, but it just felt like we weren’t getting a lot of rewards.”