'That's the last big game Klein gets': Petition launched as Queenslanders fume over ref's seismic Ponga call

Queenslanders are calling for veteran referee Ashley Klein to be removed from State of Origin duties after a seismic decision that shifted Wednesday night's series opener.

The Maroons led 20-6 before Klein sent Kalyn Ponga off in the 57th minute for a tackle that left Blues debutant Tolu Koula concussed.

Ponga turned his shoulder into Koula and while Klein said it connected with the winger's head, others argued the contact was a head clash.

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A shoulder to the head is an obvious send off but even a head clash in that scenario could result in a sin bin, which would have left the Maroons down a man for 10 minutes but allowed Ponga back on the field for the final 13.

The Blues took full advantage of the overlap and scored three tries to win the game 22-20.

The Ponga send off undoubtedly swung the game and even NSW legend Andrew Johns labelled it "outrageous", while Queensland icon Darren Lockyer was "in shock".

Klein appeared to overrule his Bunker official, who seemed to suggest Ponga should be sin binned for the act.

Brisbane newspaper The Courier-Mail on Thursday launched a petition to get Klein banned from Origin games, while former Maroons star Corey Parker also urged the NRL to axe the official.

"Origin has been going for 46 years, there have been seven send offs in history. Ashley Klein has been responsible for four of them," Parker said on his SEN radio show.

"(Reece) Walsh and (Jarome) Luai in 2023 which was garbage, (Joseph) Suaali'i a year after and now Ponga. Disaster. It has such an effect on the result.

"I called the game, I was measured and I have now had time to digest.

"After digesting what I witnessed, the still shots we have seen and the wording that goes with it is incorrect.

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"The Bunker thought it was incorrect. Klein was still adamant. He called illegal play.

"Hang on a second, if we have this $22m (Bunker) facility with cameras everywhere then take a leaf out of their book.

"Surely that's the last big game Klein gets."

Blues legend Greg Alexander agreed Ponga's action was not worthy of a send off.

"No, not a send off, it's a sin bin," he told SEN.

"There was a conversation going on with the Bunker and Ashley was adamant as though he had advice otherwise. He was adamant it was shoulder to the head with force.

"It's a high shot but not worthy of a send-off. Contact with the head yes, sin bin, yes, force yes.

"There was no intent. He turns his body to brace himself for impact, that's all he did. Contact was made, bin him but... It's not a send off."

Ponga was stunned at the Klein decision and pointed to a spot on his head where he was bleeding, suggesting it was a head clash.

He later said he didn't realise he had been sent off.

"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," he said.

The incident elicited an odd response from Blues coach Laurie Daley who replied, "I'd rather not say", when asked for his thoughts after the game.

Legendary NSW coach Phil Gould also refused to give his opinion on the matter when asked by Nine's presenter James Bracey.

Queensland coach Billy Slater offered a classic "it is what it is" and refused to criticise Klein despite the game-turning call.