There were a number of rugby league topics worthy of comment in the past week.
These included Shane Flanagan’s blunt refusal to discuss the ASADA aftermath, a newspaper poll showing that fans don’t rate the NRL heads of state, and news that there is likely to be a serious bid for a second New Zealand club/a>.I elected to sidestep them all after coming across a feel-good story in The Newcastle Herald.
Penned by senior sportswriter Brett Keeble, the article spoke warmly of a major fund-raising function held on Saturday night for injured Newcastle forward Alex McKinnon. It was held at St Joseph’s High School at Aberdeen, McKinnon’s home town in the Upper Hunter.
It was a swanky black-tie affair entitled ‘Aberdeen’s All For Alex’, who suffered a career-ending spinal injury in a club game against Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park on March 24.
Approximately 500 people rolled up for the special dinner but McKinnon could not appear as Guest of Honour because of on-going treatment at a special rehab centre on the Gold Coast.
The function was held two weeks after a star-studded rugby league game was played at nearby McKinnon Oval. Monies from both functions are still being calculated but for spinal care patients, every $100,000 raised releases enormous pressure.
Keeble reported that former Knights coach Wayne Bennett was a key speaker at the dinner, which was attended by a number of his former teammates, rugby league luminaries, and McKinnon’s family and friends.
Bennett called McKinnon straight after the dinner.
“Wayne said I should be very happy and proud of where I come from,” McKinnon told The Newcastle Herald. “And he said the committee put on an unreal show and everyone enjoyed it.
“I am very proud of where I come from and have been my whole life. In hindsight, I’m kinda glad I wasn’t there; I think I would have felt very uncomfortable.
“But I am looking forward to seeing the people and all my family and friends who put in the hard work. When I go back for Christmas in Aberdeen, I’m really looking forward to being able to thank them personally.”
McKinnon said his fiancée, Teigan Power, had been with him for the past six weeks at the rehab facility.
He said he had noticed “small improvements” in his rehabilitation process.
“The rehab’s been good but the best thing about the whole thing is I got to spend six weeks with Teigan. Even if I haven’t improved a great deal physically, I think I have mentally, and our relationship is a lot better from being up here.”
The tragic injury to McKinnon in a three-man tackle was clearly the low point of season 2014 but the rugby league community rallied magnificently to raise funds for his future life.
The Newcastle club has promised him a job for life and Ms Power, whom he met four years ago and proposed to from his hospital bed, is proving to be a tower of strength.
“We’re not dwelling on the injury,” the primary school teacher said in a July interview. “He’s the same person, he has the same personality.”
So there you have it. Not a lot has been written about McKinnon in recent months – most rugby league stories have been more negative than positive – and it’s heartening to learn that the support for him has not wavered a fraction.
Maxilimiiian
Guest
What the hell is going on at the Knights The Tapine revelations come almost 12 months to the day that it was revealed that new Knights recruit Russell Packer had been interviewed by police over an assault in Sydney. Packer was jailed in January for bashing a stranger unconscious and stomping on his head. His sentence was reduced from two years to 12 months on appeal, and he was sacked by the Knights. Within days of Packer being incarcerated, it was revealed that Knights official and former player Ben Rogers was facing two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Rogers was subsequently fined $1000 and placed on a good behaviour bond for a year after he was convicted on April 16. He was stood down from club duties while his position was "reviewed" but then resigned. Soon after, young forward Zane Tetevano had his contract terminated by the Knights and had his registration cancelled by the NRL after he pleaded guilty in Belmont Local Court to smashing a taxi windscreen. He was fined $440 but has appealed against that conviction. After being dismissed by the Knights, Tetevano signed to play out the NSW Cup season with Wyong but subsequently became involved in a second legal case in which he has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges relating to an alleged series of late-night attacks on his former girlfriend and her property.
Tim Prentice
Expert
I am right with you on that, Casper. Anything has to be better than the current situation. The NRL seems to have a round dedicated to everything - why not a special weekend in the name of player welfare?
Casper
Guest
the fact is, the legislation excludes sports persons as they are too high a risk, premiums would be excessive & the other policyholders would have to carry the cost. Not sure if the NDS will cover this type of incident in the future but at least Alex has the community behind him because of his profile. There are a lot of sad cases out there where there aren't fund raising events & the injured people just have to struggle to get by. NRL should have a self insurance scheme where a percentage of each player contract goes into a central fund and is matched by the NRL for such serious injuries.
Jay C
Roar Guru
While it is heart-warming to see a community band together in this way, it is detestable that they should have to do so. NRL needs to look after it's players with comprehensive insurance, or failing that the individual clubs need to be recognised as workplaces and the players afforded at least workers compensation level benefits. If he was a chance to play again and benefit the club, does that change their attitude about paying for the best treatments possible? The NRL can tout whatever advancement it wants but until this issue is sorted it will continue to live on in the dark ages. Amazing work people of Aberdeen, you are obviously a great place with an excellent sense of community. And good luck Alex, I know that all of Rugby League wishes you a swift recovering and a long and fulfilling life.