IT was the moment that signified this was more than just a game.
A simple embrace that emotionally captured just how rugby league had banded together as one in their support of a courageous young man.
Minutes before kick-off at Hunter Stadium yesterday, you could hear the yahooing and urging of Gold Coast Titans players echoing as they walked from their dressing room through the tunnel that leads to the ground.
But then silence. A sudden hush as Newcastle captain Kurt Gidley and his team emerged alongside them with Alex McKinnon leading them out.
It was then Titans captain Nate Myles put the on-field battle about to unfold into the background and went up to McKinnon and cradled him in his arms.
McKinnon, whose bravery and courage throughout his ordeal has been such an inspiration to everyone, was simply overwhelmed and the tears flowed.
Daily Telegraph editor Paul Whittaker presents a cheque to Alex McKinnon / Picture: Gregg Porteous
“I didn’t really know how I was going to handle it, to tell you the truth,” he said. “Everyone saw how I did handle it — (it was) pretty full on. I was trying to hold everything back but at the end of the day, the true person in myself came out and a few tears and that.
‘‘But, oh well, you can’t help that, can you? I’m overwhelmed by all the support. Very thankful.”
McKinnon touched on just how overwhelming it was.
Alex McKinnon is cheered onto the field / Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia
“Everyone’s support and everyone’s messages — it does hit home for me,” he said.
“I’m happy to be back in Newcastle and happy to be back at the stadium. It just feels right. It feels good to be back here. I suppose you’d never think four months ago you’d go away to a game in round three and you wouldn’t come back for four months.”
Myles, one of the game’s hardest men, admitted the emotion of the occasion had got to him.
“Just seeing him come down from the other side of the stadium took me back a bit,” Myles said.
“When we got on to the field, it hit me again. To see his emotion with all the support. That sort of got to me a little bit, to be honest.”
Alex McKinnon leaves the field after lining up with the teams before kick off / Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia
It was that sort of day in Newcastle as an outpouring of generosity helped push donations past $1 million for the RiseForAlex fund.
The Daily Telegraph editor Paul Whittaker presented a $300,000 cheque at yesterday’s clash between the Knights and the Titans — the fund’s single biggest contribution so far.
Daily Telegraph editor Paul Whittaker, second from left, presents a cheque to Alex McKinnon / Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia
Mr Whittaker, who presented the money on behalf of The Daily Telegraph, FoxSports and the Crown Resorts Foundation, told the crowd McKinnon was a man who exemplified courage.
“Nothing demands our respect more than someone who, having being dealt an awfully cruel blow by life, accepts the challenge to conquer the impossible,” he said.
source:dailytelegraph.com.au
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 