McKinnon Neck Injury – State of Mind

As Newcastle Knights continue to deal with the shock of Alex McKinnon’s career-ending neck injury, captain Kurt Gidley said Knights players have dedicated the rest of the NRL season to their teammate who remains in a critical but stable condition in a Melbourne hospital. News reaches us today that Alex was diagnosed as being quadraplegic

On the recommendation of coach Wayne Bennett and senior players, pack leader Willie Mason said the Knights would wear McKinnon’s name and club number, 232, on their jerseys all year, starting with the game against Cronulla at Hunter Stadium on Sunday.

The No.16 jersey McKinnon wore when he suffered a ‘‘devastating spinal injury’’ in Newcastle’s 28-20 loss to Melbourne at AAMI Park on Monday night will be retired for the rest of the season as another mark of respect.

Prop David Fa’alogo, named to wear No.16 against the Sharks, will now wear No.18.

‘‘I’d like to think we play the rest of the year for him,’’ Gidley said on Thursday after the team’s first training session since the game against the Storm.

‘‘He’s a champion young fellow, Alex. He’s well liked throughout the team, and he loves his footy in general – he lives and breathes his footy.

‘‘I know it will certainly be a tough time for him going forward with his rehab but he’s got the full support of all of us as players, and I’m sure everyone from Newcastle.

‘‘We’re all in a bit of shock and a bit of disbelief and I’m finding it hard to believe what happened until I probably see him.’’

The Knights have launched a #RiseForAlex campaign through social media, and before the game on Sunday will ask the crowd to stand and applaud as a show of support.

Rarely lost for words, Mason struggled to keep a lid on his emotions or express his despair.

‘‘It’s unprecedented what’s happened and how you’re supposed to feel in situations like this … We’re all grown men but this is something that hasn’t happened before and there’s no manuscript to say how you’ve got to feel,’’ Mason said.

‘‘He’s one of our brothers. I love Alex like a little brother so, you know, it sucks.’’

Mason was standing next to his fallen comrade moments after the tackle and, though he would not divulge details of what was said, Mason said he was horrified by what McKinnon and the Knights trainers were saying as the 22-year-old forward was being treated on the ground.

‘‘We’re a pretty strong group and we’ve got a pretty good leader there in Wayne Bennett, so we’re going off him. He’s a strong man and a leader of men … so we’ve got to continue but we’ll never forget Alex McKinnon,’’ Mason said.

‘‘It’s hard to block your emotions or grasp the whole situation. It’s uncommon for all of us.

‘‘Me and Danny [Buderus] were saying the other day how we were lucky to have over 15-year careers … so you are blessed every time you walk on that field or even train, so it’s just a really bad moment for sport in general, I suppose.

‘‘Even talking about it makes me emotional now so talking about it before the game will be even harder, so I’ll just shut my mouth and get on the field and let my actions do the work.’’

Gidley said the players first became aware of the gravity of McKinnon’s condition when they returned to the dressing-room after full-time on Monday night, and three days later were still coming to terms with the fact he will never play another game with them.

State of Mind would like to wish Alex all the very best for the future