Queensland superstar Kalyn Ponga has become the seventh player in State of Origin history to be sent off.
Ponga was given his marching orders in the second half of Wednesday night's Origin series opener, after collecting NSW debutant Tolu Koula high with 22 minutes to play.
The Maroons protested his innocence, but was told by referee Ashley Klein that it was a "shoulder charge" with "direct contact to the head".
Replays suggested it may have been head-on-head contact, with fullback Ponga rushing across field to try and shut down a Koula break.
Winger Koula also immediately left the field and failed his HIA, with the Blues able to activate Casey McLean as an 18th man in place of the Manly speedster.
Ponga had been one of the Maroons' best as they shot out to a 20-6 lead, looking threatening from the opening minutes.
With him off the field, NSW crossed five minutes later through Ethan Strange to breathe life back into the match.
Ponga's send off made the Newcastle No.1 the first player since Joseph Aukuso-Suallii in the 2024 series opener to be given their marching orders.
PLAYERS SENT OFF IN AN ORIGIN GAME:
* Craig Greenhill (QLD) - High Tackle - 62nd minute, Game II, 1996
* Gorden Tallis (QLD) - Referee Abuse, 71st minute, Game I, 2000
* Trent Waterhouse (NSW) - Striking, 78th minute, Game III, 2009
* Jarome Luai (NSW) - Headbutt, 79th minute, Game II, 2023
* Reece Walsh (QLD) - Headbutt, 79th minute, Game II, 2023
* Joseph Suaalii (NSW) - High Tackle - 8th minute, Game I, 2024
* Kalyn Ponga (QLD) - Shoulder Charge - 58th minute, Game I, 2026.