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Alex McKinnon possibly Quadriplegic - Mclean guilty of dangerous throw - 7 weeks

How many weeks?

  • 1-2

    Votes: 53 42.7%
  • 3-4

    Votes: 25 20.2%
  • 5-6

    Votes: 10 8.1%
  • 7-8

    Votes: 10 8.1%
  • 9+

    Votes: 26 21.0%

  • Total voters
    124
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--Storm--

Juniors
Messages
1,633
Lol they're more upset at a persons reaction than the players who did the tackle. That tells me they know McKinnon knows he's as much responsible for his injury as anyone. He tried to pull a Inglis and dive for the ground to get a penalty

Yep 100% correct
 

El Diablo

Post Whore
Messages
94,107
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-their-son-was-paralysed-20150704-gi5606.html

Alex McKinnon's parents recall on '60 Minutes' the moment their son was paralysed

Date
July 4, 2015 - 6:20PM

Tim Connell

The parents of NRL player Alex McKinnon have spoken for the first time about the emotional moment they realised their son had been paralysed from the chest down.

In their most raw comments to date, Scott and Kate McKinnon describe their devastation on a "winter's night, that was just silent, just cold".

"I just stood and looked at the telly and said, 'Get up, Alex, please get up sweetheart'," Kate McKinnon said.

Their gut-wrenching account will air on Channel Nine's 60 Minutes on Sunday night, with the program also describing how the 23-year-old "wanted to die" after the tackle last May, involving the Melbourne Storm's Jordan McLean, that damaged his spine.

The moment when, in McKinnon's words, "everything just stopped".

McKinnon can't cough or sneeze since his head hit the ground in that tackle. He asks himself, often, "Why didn't you just let go of the ball and put your hand down?"

Reporter Liz Hayes interviewed McKinnon before the release of his autobiography, Unbroken. She told Fairfax Media the former Knight is devoted to staying healthy and forging a life with fiancee Teigan Power.

"He's got great hope that science and technology will one day hold the key to him getting movement back," Hayes said.

"He's also a realist. He's in a place where he understands that might not happen."

The family's lives have been condensed to tiny triumphs and devastations. McKinnon has relearnt to pick up a spoon and lift it to his mouth, but can no longer cook. He was always house-proud. It feels like a loss. He can stand for short periods, with help, and dreams of walking Teigan – "the woman who saved his life" – down the aisle.

"Alex hates that people are awkward and uncomfortable around him now," Hayes said.

"But he understands."

The public goodwill around his recovery culminated in last year's NRL Rise For Alex round, during which the Knights honoured McKinnon before playing the Dragons in front of a tearful crowd at Hunter Stadium.

There were fund-raisers in McKinnon's home town of Aberdeen. The Wiggles made a tribute song. More than $1 million was raised for the injured player, whose living costs will exceed $200,000 a year, and the NRL offered him a "job for life".

McKinnon briefly worked at the Knights in a football and corporate capacity, before taking a role as an NRL ambassador and pursuing a business degree. He and Power still live in Newcastle.

A lawsuit that McKinnon is considering against the NRL and Melbourne Storm, estimated by legal experts as a potential $10 million action, has the support of Wayne Bennett.

"He says that in 30 years' time, when no one's heard of Alex McKinnon, he's got to know that he'll still have a life," Hayes said, referring to the former Knights and now Broncos coach.

"I think financial security is what [McKinnon] would hope to achieve. He's not wanting Learjets. He's just wanting to survive."

Bennett is "very much a part of Alex's inner sanctum" and has vowed to wear his Rise For Alex wristband until "the day that we realise he won't walk again or he will walk".
 

Swarzey

Bench
Messages
4,165
Can't believe people are still going to defend his comment :lol:

That wasn't the time for Smith to blame anyone. It was VERY f**king clear that something was wrong the moment everyone cleared away and by the time the penalty was blown Smith should have known it was more important than two f**king points. Regardless of who is to blame, you don't f**king blame a kid who couldn't move his f**king arms or legs in that moment. You don't expect those comments from a captain, the Australian captain and someone whose held in such high regard; he should have known better.

Said it for some time that Smith is one the most classless, arrogant merkins there is in the game. Fact he's NEVER apologised for it, a year after it happened just highlights that. Anyone who defends his comments need to pull their f**king heads out; there's more important things in life than football.
 

--Storm--

Juniors
Messages
1,633
If I remember correctly Alex Mckinnon shoulder charged Jordon In the semis the previous year and when Jordon was on the ground clearly hurt he was high fiving his team mates and walking round like he was king shit so he can't talk what so ever.
 

Apey

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
28,279
:lol: Don't work yourself into a fit over the opinions two serial morons Swarzey, seriously.
 

Surrogate

Juniors
Messages
674
The timing of this documentary is dubious a few days way from the origin decider. Hang your heads in shame Channel 9 and the SYdney centric power brokers.
 

insert.pause

First Grade
Messages
6,462
Smith lacked class and should have shown greater consideration for Alex's welfare. Considering his position as the Australian captain he should have shown greater leadership during and after the game.
 

madunit

Super Moderator
Staff member
Messages
62,358
How dare Dr Smith not realise McKinnon had a career ending spinal injury. He's a medical professional for f**ks sake, he should know better.

Sure it goes without saying that what has happened to Alex is gut wrenching and unbelievably sad. But to go after Smith like this just seems, i dunno, desperate.

He has a lot more to think and worry about than Smith's actions.

Sure Smith could have apologised later, but his apology really means jack shit at the end of the day.
 

Meapro Ham

Juniors
Messages
1,813
I agree MU. What's the point of McK being bitter about it. Not going to help him and surely there are more important things to worry about
 

Son of Minto

Bench
Messages
3,114
An apology for what? Telling the truth? If he doesnt tuck his head, he doesnt break his neck. Theres been worse lifting tackles before and after that tackle. Its not hard to see what the difference between them are.

Whatever it takes to sell his book I guess.
 

Allstar Knights

Juniors
Messages
2,199
Alex's face was heading straight into the turf. He reacted within a split second like anyone would (natural instinct) and ducked to try and avoid his face being smashed in. He shouldn't have been put in that position in the first place for him to feel he needed to do that.

Smith is a germ and should do the right thing and apologize to Alex for his behaviour that night.
 
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Swarzey

Bench
Messages
4,165
An apology for what? Telling the truth? If he doesnt tuck his head, he doesnt break his neck. Theres been worse lifting tackles before and after that tackle. Its not hard to see what the difference between them are.

Whatever it takes to sell his book I guess.

Simply, there are things bigger than the sport. That moment and this entire situation is one of them. Something so obvious, regardless of the extent of the injury shouldn't have been argued. It was a penalty and Smith thought it was more important.

It's all made worse by him standing by the comments and refusing to apologise, even meet McKinnon. He's pinned up at the face of rugby league, the captain of every side he walks into, he should have known there wasn't a place for those comments; even now, well after the injury he hasn't budged. It comes off as arrogant and classless.
 

some11

Referee
Messages
23,675
Alex's face was heading straight into the turf. He reacted within a split second like anyone would (natural instinct) and ducked to try and avoid his face being smashed in.

This, can't believe anyone thinks it was voluntary, I completely f**ked my knee after falling into concrete chest first cause my natural instinct was to lift my leg to try and stop it.

Face first your natural instinct is to duck and turn.
 

gUt

Coach
Messages
16,935
f**k thats a relief. i saw i'd posted in this thread and worried that i'd drunkenly confessed that I believe mckinnon contributed to his his terrible injury by quite clearly ducking his head into the tackle
 

Apey

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
28,279
Oh god this reminds me of earlier in the thread where people were saying the natural reaction would to bend your head backwards instead :lol:
 

Vic Mackey

Referee
Messages
25,426
The fact that the captain of the Australian Rugby League team, who is also the captain of the side the injury happened against has never once tries to contact McKinnon is a complete and utter disgrace.

I will never question Smiths playing ability, he has been a phenomenal player. However he proven time and time again that he is a complete shit human being. This, the constant grapples, the storm salary cap breach which he has NEVER been questioned on (remember he was his own manager, the other managers involved all received penalties). How the hell the guy had this clean skin image is beyond me. I guess the media will never question news limited golden child.
 
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