World News – UA – McKinnon drops ‘blinding hatred’ for Smith

Alex McKinnon says he finally forgave Cameron Smith for Captain Storm’s reaction to a tackle that left the former Knights player crippled

McKinnon had immense bitterness towards Smith in the 2014 incident After McKinnon was slammed head first into the ground at AAMI Park, Smith argued with the referee over the resulting penalty that the Newcastle striker was immobile; now quadriplegic and his career ended Smith has never publicly explained his reaction

McKinnon, now a recruiting officer in Newcastle, told Nine NRL reporter Danny Weidler – in his Sun Herald column – that he had finally moved beyond the « hatred » he felt for Smith

 » I forgave everything that happened right after the tackle, his response – I forgave him It’s hard to hold on to the hate It really is It’s energy wasted It’s blinding

 » At worst it can consume you and I have been admitting it for a while There is nothing positive about being like this and for that reason I have passed it and have no hard feelings at all « 

McKinnon said his family found it particularly difficult to forgive Smith, but also managed to let go of their bitterness

 » The hardest part was for my family, my dad, to let it go But I told them it didn’t do any good to keep the hate I spoke with them that it doesn’t help nobody And the family was able to put everything aside, ”he told Weidler

McKinnon said he once took solace in the Barracks against the Storm, hoping they would lose, but didn’t again. He said in his current role he felt inspired to find out the next Cameron Smith

Melbourne will face Penrith in the NRL Grand Final on Sunday, in what could be Smith’s last rugby league game. It will be his 430th game and could lead to his third PM

Cameron Smith, Melbourne Storm, National Rugby League, Alex McKinnon, Newcastle Knights, Fox League