This was published 9 years ago
Raiders to pay tribute to Alex McKinnon against Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park
By Lee Gaskin
The Canberra Raiders will pay tribute to courageous Newcastle Knights forward Alex McKinnon when they run on to the ground where his tragic injury occured.
The Raiders will take on the Melbourne Storm on Saturday night at AAMI Park, the same venue where McKinnon's life changed forever.
Raiders forward Joel Edwards played with Alex McKinnon at the Knights.Credit: Getty Images
The 22-year-old suffered a broken and dislocated neck in the c4 and c5 vertebrae as the result of a tackle from the Storm's Jordan McLean, leaving paralysis in all four of his limbs.
The NRL on Friday launched the ''Rise for Alex'' round, with fans, players and the NRL donating to the fund for McKinnon through ticket sales and pledges this weekend.
Inspirational: Alex McKinnon.Credit: Kate Geraghty
Raiders forward Joel Edwards played alongside McKinnon at the Knights in 2012 before he moved to Canberra last year.
Edwards praised the NRL for getting behind McKinnon and accepted the injury was a freak accident that is rarely seen in the game.
"The Rise for Alex round is a great initiative and I hope everyone gets out to the games and buys an armband,'' Edwards said.
"You don't like to see that happen to anyone.
"I know Jordan McLean wouldn't have done that intentionally.
''That sort of tackle happens 10 times over each weekend and doesn't end up like that.''
Edwards described McKinnon as a ''good, knock-around fella'' after he got to know him during their one season together at the Knights.
McLean was suspended for seven games for the tackle and has been named on the Storm's interchange bench for the clash with the Raiders.
Storm forward Ryan Hinchcliffe said McLean was as happy as anyone to see the NRL put on the Rise for Alex weekend.
"He was knocked around for a little while, there was no doubt about that,'' Hinchcliffe said.
''I don't think he knew what to feel, to be honest with you.
''We sort of gave him as much space and as much support that he needed.
''He's served his suspension and he's back playing and he's happy to be back playing.
''What happened was a tragedy and a complete accident.
''He needed our support, he's all right now.''
McKinnon's injury has raised the issue of player welfare and whether the NRL is doing enough to help players out post their football careers.
"We all know as professional rugby league players there's a certain amount of danger in what we do,'' Hinchcliffe said.
''What happened with Alex was a freak accident, it was one of those things that happened.
''It's just part of rugby league.
''Sometimes there's going to be some injuries and unfortunately for Alex it was a serious one.''
Edwards has come close himself to serious injury.
He has suffered concussions in back-to-back games this year and the Raiders forced him to sit out a match to recover.
"I think the NRL is on the front foot with insuring players' contracts and other avenues in terms of study,'' Edwards said.
''Rugby league is like anything, you go to work each day and there's risks involved in every job you do.
''You could go out to pick up a newspaper and an unfortunate thing happens, it's just part and parcel of any job.''