Kent: A Knight who’s full of chivalry

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WHAT sort of young man is Alex McKinnon?

We don't know a lot about him. We know he turned 22 last month, that he injured his foot last year which caused him to miss a handful of games midway through the season right after things started going well — following his representative debut for Country.

We know that the quietness in the Knights dressing room after Monday's game, in which McKinnon fractured his C4 and C5 vertebrae, went beyond defeat.

Everybody sat there, heads down, locked in silence.

Alex McKinnon falls awkwardly in clash against the Storm. Scans reveal he has fractured his vertebrae. Source: FoxSports

McKinnon is still in hospital this morning, and will be for some time. Doctors cannot determine the extent of damage to his spinal cord until the swelling around his neck goes down in the next few days, possibly weeks.

In Newcastle yesterday the Knights were under instructions not to talk about McKinnon. They will be again today and tomorrow. Nobody wants to risk mistaken information, and possibly harmful information, being leaked when the matter is so serious.

So what sort of young man is Alex McKinnon?

Like many young footballers he has a Twitter account but, unlike many young footballers, he fails to comment about the inane activities — "brekky with the boys this morning. ham and eggs #cholesterol #skinfolds" — of daily life.

He posted his last Tweet a month ago, a retweet from actor and former wrestler Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock: "Realized over the years that success doesn't change a person ... it only magnifies who've (sic) they've been their entire life."

With that small glimpse, we see McKinnon is unlike most footballers, a man willing to entertain a world where football ends.

This morning you hope he realises that if success doesn't change a person, neither does injury.

McKinnon's previous Tweet, before the ponderings of The Rock, was a thank you to his girlfriend for his birthday present, a skydiving voucher.

Before that it was another re­tweet. On January 28, he wrote: "Repost; usually just scroll past these posts, but this is something that has to be heard. Sometimes we don't realise how good we've got it."

And while the repost was unexpected from a footballer, you might be now coming to expect it from Alex McKinnon.

X-Ray image of the C4 and C5 vertebrae in the spine. Source: FoxSports

It was a quote, and it said: "I will post and repost this till the cows come home. Kids with special needs are not weird or odd or sick. They only want what everyone else wants ... to be accepted!! Can I make a request? Is anyone willing to post this in honour of all children who were made in a unique way. Let's see who has a strong heart."

Let's see who has a strong heart.

Coaches are always looking for good players, it's the way it is. And it's no secret the good ones go looking for something beyond talent. Beyond size and speed and skill.

They go looking for heart.

That's why the dressing room was so quiet on Monday night.

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Every injury like McKinnon has suffered is a tragedy, but not everybody has the ability to reach in and touch the heart of teammates like Alex McKinnon.

It is uncommon, and went beyond the pain for a fallen mate. There are one or two in every club.

Before Christmas he retweeted a photo of twin babies in a hospital incubator in their first week of life.

"Each were in their respective incubators and one was not expected to live," the caption reads.

"A hospital nurse fought against the hospital rules and placed the babies in one incubator. When they were placed together, the healthier of the two threw her arm over her sister in an endearing embrace. The smaller baby's heart stabilized and temperature rose to normal."

It's there on his Twitter page, the modern fingerprint of a footballer we know so little about, the photo of the child in hospital with a protective arm around her. It is a metaphor for something this morning.

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McKinnon should focus on life: Ross

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BEN Ross is planning to contact hospitalised Newcastle Knights forward Alex McKinnon with a simple message: 'focus on life, not footy'.

If anyone can understand the depth of pain, confusion and uncertainty which has consumed McKinnon's past 48 hours, it's Ross.

The former Cronulla Sharks prop was sidelined from the NRL for two years after breaking his neck in the opening round of the 2009 season.

Doctors told Ross he may never walk again, let alone play football. But step-by-step, day-by-day, he regained his strength to produce one of sport's truly inspiring comebacks when he returned in the NRL for South Sydney.

Ben Ross is stretchered from field with a suspected neck injury. Source: News Limited

He retired last year having played 173 first-grade games.

Now working for the Men of League Foundation, Ross was re-acquainted with memories of his own recovery when learning yesterday of the spinal injuries suffered by McKinnon, which have placed the young Newcastle forward's career on hold.

"It's hard, he wouldn't know where his career is at right now,'' Ross said.

"He'd be wondering what they're going to do. How they're going to go about things. All these things rush through your head.

"Of course, you want to play footy again and he'd want to know the outcome, but they won't know until after the operation, which is the scary thing.

Ben Ross is tackled during a clash between the Rabbitohs and NSW Cup side Newtown, in a NRL trial. Source: News Limited

"You just have to have faith in the surgeons and the medical staff, which I'm sure he's in the best hands.''

Ross said thoughts of playing rugby league again, for the time being, should be the furthest thing from McKinnon's mind.

"I remember I said to the doctors before the operation, 'Will I ever be able to play again?' And he said; 'We'll see if you can walk first.'

"That was when I knew I had to get my priorities straight. Recovering was the first thing I had to do and so I focused on ticking that box.

Alex McKinnon falls awkwardly in clash against the Storm. Scans reveal he has fractured his vertebrae. Source: FoxSports

"I'd like to speak to Alex when the time is right, just to tell him he can pull through this.''

Knights officials and doctors have declared it is too premature to discuss what the future may hold for McKinnon.

McKinnon would be aware of Ross' story, so too Queensland's Gorden Tallis and Penrith prop Sam McKendry, who both managed to return to the playing field from neck injuries.

But at 22, McKinnon seemingly has his life in front of him, which as Ross suggested, is more important than football.

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Moyes insists best is yet to come

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DAVID Moyes has hit back at a suggestion from Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini that Manchester United's best days are a thing of the past ahead of Tuesday's derby.

United manager Moyes' men and Pellegrini's Premier League title-chasers meet later in the 167th Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

Victory for City would see them move to within three points of leaders Chelsea, with a game in hand.

But faltering champions United, in their first season since Moyes replaced the retired Alex Ferguson, British football's most successful manager, are already 12 points adrift of City.

Not only do United have no realistic chance of retaining their title, their chances of finishing in the top four and so qualifying for next season's Champions League now appear remote, with their best chance winning this term's tournament — a tough job given their quarter-final opponents are defending European champions Bayern Munich.

Last month City boss Pellegrini, whose side have already won the League Cup this term, said: "If you consider this season, there is just one club in Manchester and it is ours.

"But you cannot forget what United has done in previous years."

The Chilean's words touched a nerve with Moyes, who on the eve of the derby, responded by saying: "Well Manchester United had lots and lots of seasons of domination.

"I don't think if I was a manager I would have turned round and necessarily said that we were the only club in Manchester because football does change, it goes in cycles," the Scot added.

City's manager Manuel Pellegrini says his team is the only club in Manchester this season. Source: AP

United's biggest problem in terms of league form has been the fact they've won just once — a 1-0 victory over Arsenal — against the top nine so far this season, with a recent 3-0 defeat by archrivals Liverpool still fresh in the memory.

"They have definitely hurt," Moyes said.

"They have hurt more because I joined Manchester United with big expectations myself — that I was coming to the winning football club."

The former Everton manager added: "I've got a winning mentality and that's what I wanted to do, so I'm disappointed with myself and I'm disappointed that we've been unable to do that.

"But it has not been for the want of trying, that's for sure.

"We want to try and perform better in the bigger games than what we have done."

Meanwhile Moyes said he'd disciplined Chris Smalling after the United defender was pictured out in Manchester in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The Manchester Evening News published pictures of Smalling which it said showed the defender singing in the streets at 3.15am.

Smalling, 24, had stayed behind while the squad travelled to London for their Saturday match against West Ham because of a hamstring injury.

"I've dealt with it and I've spoken to Chris," Moyes said.

"That would be as much as I would want to say on it."

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‘Any slip could ruin Barca’s season’

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BARCELONA boss Gerardo Martino believes it is his side's own fault that they aren't in a more comfortable position in La Liga despite beating Real Madrid twice this season.

Lionel Messi inspired the Catalans to a famous 4-3 away at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday night as he notched his second hat-trick in as many games.

Victory brought Martino's men back into the title race as they now trail leaders Atletico Madrid and Real by just one point with nine games remaining.

However, the Argentine warned that his side can suffer no slip-ups of the kind they have suffered at Real Sociedad and Valladolid in recent weeks if they are to retain their title, starting with Celta Vigo's visit to the Camp Nou on Wednesday.

"Last weekend has allowed us to get back in the league. Now we have to continue playing well against Celta and what remains of the league season. We cannot make a mistakes," he said on Tuesday.

"Our wish is to perform at a high level and to have similar individual performances to those we had on Sunday.

"The competitions are entering their final stage and if we don't maintain that level it will endanger our chances of winning any titles.

"Generally, we need to be consistent. That is why we are not in a different position today, above all in the league. If we had maintained consistency in our performances and results, we would be in a much better position."

Martino has left Xavi out of his 18-man squad for the game against Celta with the Catalan derby away to Espanyol and a return to Champions League action against Atletico Madrid next week in mind.

Pedro Rodriguez, Alexis Sanchez and Marc Bartra are also likely to feature after being left on the bench at the Bernabeu.

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Ronaldo dubbed ‘cry baby’

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CRISTIANO Ronaldo has sparked a storm of criticism for condemning the referee who awarded three penalties in Barcelona's dramatic win over Real Madrid.

Ronaldo said after the 4-3 Clasico defeat on Sunday night that referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco made "unbelievable" decisions and that unnamed forces wanted Barcelona in the title race.

Barcelona players said the comments by the world player of the year were unjustified. Sport newspaper called Ronaldo a "cry baby".

Lionel Messi scored three goals, two from penalties, in one of the most dramatic matches between the arch-rivals. The result took Barcelona just one point behind Real and Atletico Madrid at the top of the Spanish table.

Barcelona's Sergio Busquets (left) vies with Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo during the Spanish league Clasico football match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Picture: Curto de la Torre Source: AFP

Mallenco gave Madrid defender Sergio Ramos the 19th red card of his career and Ronaldo, who scored from a controversial penalty himself, blasted the referee.

"The decisions that the referee took, for me it was unbelievable," the Portuguese striker said.

"It makes you think that maybe they don't want Madrid to win this league. Or they don't want to completely rule out Barca, because if Barca had lost today they would have been dead."

"There were a lot of mistakes for just one game. A match between Real and Barca ought to have a high level of referee," added Ronaldo.

"You can't make correct decisions when you are nervous. It makes me think that it is not just on the field that you win games, a little help from outside helps too.

"My penalty might have been just outside the area, but there are many things that went on. It is difficult when many people didn't want us to win today."

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (left) celebrates with Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos after scoring during the Spanish league Clasico football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona. Picture: Pierre Source: AFP

Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez said Ronaldo had "spoken too soon" and that the referee had been "fair". Gerard Pique also called on Ronaldo to stop "complaining".

Marca newspaper commentator Roberto Palomar said Ronaldo "ended up spewing stupidities in the press room. He can be forgiven for being who he is."

"As usual when they lose, Real Madrid's worst image returned," said Barcelona newspaper Sport. Ronaldo's criticism "showed once again that, when things don't go the way he wants, the arrogant, ill-humoured Cristiano reappears."

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Marathon man Broxham’s timely break

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JUST about the only way you can get Leigh Broxham to take a break is a suspension.

The Melbourne Victory vice-captain will miss Saturday night's AAMI Park clash with Sydney FC after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season in the 1-0 loss to Brisbane Roar at the weekend.

But no one could begrudge the 26-year-old a rest as he has been Victory's marathon man for the past month.

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Broxham played a staggering 687 minutes in the space of 29 days as Victory contested eight games between February 22 (against Adelaide) and March 22 (against Roar).

The only minutes for which he was sidelined came in last Tuesday's Asian Champions League win against Yokohama F. Marinos, when he was substituted in the 57th minute for Mark Milligan.

Milligan, Victory's captain, is another who has had a power of work of late.

Not only has he been involved in four A-League games and three Champions League games for a total of 573 minutes, he flew to London to play for the Socceroos in the March 6 friendly against Ecuador. He played 90 minutes that night, too.

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All the while Milligan has nursed a suspect knee, surgery on which sidelined him for the best part of a month this year.

In all, Victory has six players who have played more than 500 minutes in its past eight games: Broxham, Milligan, James Troisi, Lawrence ­Thomas, Archie Thompson and Jason Geria.

Only Broxham, Troisi and Kosta Barbarouses (463 minutes) featured in all eight games, which featured trips to China, Perth and Brisbane.

With no Champions League game this week, coach Kevin Muscat said his players would enjoy a few days to recover.

"It's been a hard slog," he said. "I think we've embraced playing in the Asian Champions League and our A-League form has been good. It'll be nice now to try and freshen the boys up."

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Steyn’s class too much for NZ

South Africa cricketer Dale Steyn celebrates the wicket of New Zealand batsman Nathan McCullum. Picture: Prakash Singh/AFP Source: PRAKASH SINGH / AFP

DALE Steyn produced a gem of a fast bowling performance to help South Africa secure a two-run win over New Zealand in the World Twenty20.

Steyn returned with figures of 4-17 as South Africa restricted New Zealand to 168-8 after they scored 170-6 on Monday.

Needing seven runs to win the last over, New Zealand could score only four runs against Steyn. Ross Taylor was the highest scorer with 62, while Kane Williamson made 51.

Imran Tahir finished 2-27 for South Africa.

Earlier, JP Duminy hit 86 not out for South Africa and Hashim Amal scored 41.

Corey Anderson and Tim Southee claimed two wickets apiece.

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Arteta: Arsenal ‘embarrassing’

Chelsea's Eden Hazard, left, vies for the ball with with Arsenal's Olivier Giroud, centre, and Mikel Arteta during the English Premier League match at Stamford Bridge stadium. Picture: Kirsty Wigglesworth Source: Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP

ARSENAL midfielder Mikel Arteta issued a public apology on Monday for the Gunners' "unacceptable'' and "embarrassing'' 6-0 thrashing by Premier League leaders Chelsea last weekend.

Saturday's crushing London derby loss at Stamford Bridge was a humiliating way for Arsenal to mark Arsene Wenger's 1000th match as their manager and left them in fourth place, seven points adrift of Chelsea, albeit with a game in hand on the table-toppers.

Defeat at Stamford Bridge was Arsenal's third huge away loss to one of their title rivals this season after a 5-1 reverse at Liverpool and a 6-3 humbling at Manchester City.

Arsenal were overwhelmed by Chelsea's pace and power, falling 3-0 behind inside 17 minutes and playing most of the match a man down after Kieran Gibbs was mistakenly sent off in place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Chelsea midfielder Oscar (left) scores his team's fifth goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Picture: Glyn Kirk Source: AFP

Arsenal and Spain midfielder Arteta said the Gunners were "just not good enough'' but promised an improved performance at home to top-flight strugglers Swansea on Tuesday.

"We paid for our own mistakes. We have to take it on the chin because it is unacceptable to lose another big game like this,'' Arteta told Arsenal Media.

"You cannot only just move on, you have to analyse what you have done and react. I am expecting a big reaction on Tuesday (because) Saturday was not good enough for this football club

"The good thing is we have a lot of things to play for and we have always reacted to disappointments and difficult moments, but this one is a really hard one to take, it was a massive game for us and for me it is unacceptable.

"The pressure we put on ourselves by losing games like that is massive and there is no need for it.

Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain dives in the goal mouth after deflecting a shot on goal from Chelsea's Oscar, left. Picture: Kirsty Wigglesworth Source: AP

"We just disrupted the good season we were having. I don't know what else to say apart from sorry to everyone at the club, the fans, and we promise that we will try hard to put that right.''

Arteta added: ``It hurts deeply inside. It is embarrassing to be on a football pitch in that situation.

"Psychologically it is really hard, and when you go through that you analyse it and you know you don't want to be in that situation again.

"I promise everyone that we have that hunger to put it right. On Tuesday, we have an opportunity again at home and we just need to bounce back.''

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Buzz: Bennett blasts ‘drama queens’

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WAYNE Bennett doesn't often pick up the telephone and ring this newspaper.

But the supercoach is seriously annoyed about the recent coverage of concussion and brain injuries in rugby league.

Anyone who knows Bennett will tell that he has always regarded player welfare more importantly than two competition points.

Recently he has been accused in certain sections of the media of ignoring the dangers of head injuries.

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"Duty of care is something I really value and care about," he said.

"Some of the stuff that has been written about one of my players, Robbie Rochow, is factually wrong and an insult to our doctor and physio.

"No-one takes this stuff more seriously than I do. The drama queens are in play now. You've got to wait and listen to the experts."

Greg Inglis concussed on Friday. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

So over the weekend he put me in touch with one of the country's most prominent medical specialists.

Professor Chris Levi is a neurologist and director of the Hunter Medical Research Institute and the brain and mental health program.

This is the email he sent me.

"A responsible medical scientist would be shouted down for claiming 'proof' of a cause for a medical condition based on anecdote, case report and low level evidence," he says.

"Claiming a 'cause and effect' relationship between concussion and neurological illness in rugby league players is not justified.

"High quality, reliable scientific evidence is currently lacking. Naïve media reporting scientific data can, at times, unintentionally mislead or sensationalise.

"The work highlighted by Peter Fitzsimons recently is preliminary and has serious flaws.

"In contrast, Wayne Bennett's recent comments in the media recently were balanced and appropriate based on the current level of understanding of any potential long-term impact of concussion.

"Where there is concern but a lack of scientific evidence, it is appropriate to adopt caution and undertake rigorous research.

Greg Inglis concussed on Friday. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

"The NRL has done the former and medical researchers in Australia are doing the latter.

"In medical science there are standards of proof required before pronouncements are made about causes of disease.

"I do not expect journalists to be expert in critical appraisal of scientific studies and evidence.

"However, the non-medical expert members of the public should expect a balanced reporting and should expect not to be misled."

Another senior neurologist Dr Sam Sorrenti supported by what Professor Levi is saying.

Two years ago your columnist proudly led the campaign to get rid of the shoulder charge.

It was for one reason only – that medical experts, far more qualified than coaches and officials, wanted it banned.

Again we should be listening to them.

Three former players, out of the tens of thousands that have played the game, have gone public with claims of brain damage.

It a tiny percentage of all those who have played the game.

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WING COMMANDERS

WINGERS have become the most skilful players in rugby league. Every week there's an acrobatic try that defies belief.

Brett Morris's effort on half-time against the Sharks was as spectacular as you'll ever see.

In the old days wingers had speed but that was about it.

Now they play as an extra forward, take marks like AFL players and have the body control of gymnasts.

Throw in the defensive work covering overlaps, quick turnarounds to chase, stopping 40-20s and defusing bombs.

It shows why they're among the most valuable players in any salary cap.

As for Morris, he's the best of the lot and is loving playing outside men as skilful as ­Gareth Widdop and Gerard Beale. At Penrith, Dean Whare scored a screamer on Saturday as well.

The best flanker I've seen was Parramatta's Eric Grothe in the early to mid-80s.

I rang him yesterday to have a rave about today's wingers.

"In my day if you had a couple if runs you'd be happy with that," he said.

"Now it's such a hard position to play. They're skilled in all areas and really impressive in everything they do."

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JAMIE'S CLASS PASS

Speaking of special skill, Jamie Soward's match-­winning pass against the Bulldogs on Saturday would have made King Wally Lewis proud.

It was a moment of class, brilliance and football genius.

The Panthers were gone. A minute and a half on the clock. Down by four. They work play to the left.

The much-­maligned Soward gets the footy near the centre of the field, just to the left of the uprights.

He shoots a bullet-like pass, cutting out two players. It lands straight on Kevin Naiqama's chest. Try time.

Matt Moylan converts from the sideline and the Panthers get the cash. Soward also set up the first try with a kick for Whare.

Maybe Phillip Ronald was right. Maybe Jamie Soward is a marquee player after all.

GUESSING REFEREES

Referees should be stopped from having to guess on doubtful tries before they go upstairs to the video box.

The number of calls that they are getting wrong this season is an unnecessary ­embarrassment.

Under Tony Archer's leadership there have been twice as many video referrals this year. That's fine — if the technology is there they should use it. But why make a call when there is enough doubt to go upstairs.

Within the space of three minutes at Penrith on Saturday, the refs got two calls wrong with Tyrone Peachey and Tim Lafai.

They also got a Brett Morris call wrong at Shark Park and another one later in the match. They should either award a try or go upstairs and leave it to the officials who can study the video.

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HIGHLIGHT

Nice to see good sportsmanship on social media. Wests Tigers centre Tim Simona accidently knocked out superstar Greg Inglis in a nasty collision on Friday night.

Straight after the game he contacted the Rabbitohs fullback via Twitter: "@greg_inglis hope your well bro''

To which Inglis replied: "@timsimona all good bro.. Cheers for the tweet man.. Just one of those things man.. All good.''

LOWLIGHT

There is not a more unpopular player in rugby league than the once admired Sam Burgess.

He continues to behave like a lunatic and is doing his team no favours with his undisciplined actions.

ENNIS FEELS HEAT

Michael Ennis is a man under huge pressure at the Bulldogs.

You could see it when he argued and exchanged heated words with team mate Josh Reynolds in the game against the Panthers.

Ennis knows the Dogs haven't paid $900,000 and provided Michael Lichaa with a car to play NSW Cup.

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Minto leaves family to chase dream

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ASK Matt Minto about the inspirations behind his desire to make it in the NRL and he'll tell you they are almost 1300 kms away in Rockhampton.

His little three year old daughter Lila and partner Carolyn have stayed behind in his north Queensland hometown while Minto chases his dream at the Newcastle Knights.

"It's been tough being away from them but it's the sacrifice we've had to make," the rookie Knights fullback says.

"Carolyn's studying fashion design at TAFE and I'm down here trying to make a go of footy.

"I'm on a minimal contract and only signed for one year and with all of Carolyn's family in Rockhampton, we just thought this was the best way.

"Put my head down for six months, give it everything and see where it takes us.

"Hopefully, if things get a bit more secure, I'll be able to bring them down here."

Matt Minto on debut. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

In the meantime, Minto has to settle for monthly visits and plenty of phone calls.

But even he couldn't have envisaged his sacrifice beginning to pay off so quickly.

Signed as a back-up half or five-eighth from Queensland Cup premiership-winning side Mackay Cutters by Knights recruitment guru Peter Mulholland, Minto debuted as a fullback against the Canberra Raiders last Sunday after Darius Boyd tore his hamstring in the opening round.

He did well enough for coach Wayne Bennett to want to give him another shot.

Tonight, he will go head to head with Melbourne Storm's Kangaroo fullback Billy Slater in Melbourne as the injury-hit Knights chase their first win of the season.

"I can't wait to be honest," he says.

"You never want to waste opportunities like this so I'll just go out and do my best.

"Melbourne in Melbourne is still the yardstick I reckon and knocking them over down there would be massive for us."

Matt Minto at training. Picture: Peter Lorimer Source: News Corp Australia

Under different circumstances, the 23 year old may well have already left his mark in the NRL.

He was signed to a scholarship at Penrith when he was 15 but when he finally came down to Sydney after finishing high school, he got home-sick and returned north.

A year later, he was back in Sydney playing Under 20's with the Bulldogs but in his second year, he found out Carolyn was pregnant.

"Two days after she told me, I packed up and went back home," he said.

"I probably went off the rails a bit there for a time after that.

"It was my old school coach from St Brendan's College in Yeppoon, Terry Hansen, who told me it was not too late to give footy a real go and to have another crack.

"So far, it's worked out pretty good."

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