Former Newcastle Knights star Alex McKinnon has lifted the veil on his feelings for Cameron Smith, after the infamous 2014 tackle left him paralyzed
McKinnon fractured his C4 and C5 vertebrae following a tackle from Smith, whose response to the horrific tragedy polarized rugby league fans
Smith became an easy target for hatred after he was heard arguing with referee Gerard Sutton over the incident, once McKinnon was sent off the pitch
No one at that point knew the extent of McKinnon’s injury, with Smith explaining to Sutton that it was a terrible accident that was not his fault
« It’s unfortunate and I don’t want this to happen all the time in our game, » he said
Smith suffered a wave of backlash after the comments aired on 60 Minutes, with McKinnon also revealing his resentment towards the veteran Storm
McKinnon admitted that hatred towards the Melbourne skipper had eaten him up for some time, but he learned to come out of the devastating incident and forgive Smith for what was a horrific accident.
« I have no emotions when it comes to Cameron Smith these days, » McKinnon told the Sydney Morning Herald
« 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 wasted energy It’s blinding
« Worst case scenario it can consume you and I’ve been admitting that for some time there »
The former Knight – who now works as the club’s recruiting manager – said it was even more difficult for his father to forgive Smith, but he too learned to move on
« My dad can now observe something Smith did and not see it in a negative light »
Smith – set to play his eighth final on Sunday night against the Panthers – has yet to announce a decision on whether or not to play
Now 37, the former Queensland and Australia captain finished fourth in this year’s Dally M medal tally despite missing four games, and was once again voted the game’s best hooker
Given his form, that number seems to be the source of Smith’s torment over whether Sunday’s grand final against Penrith will be his 430th and final game in the NRL
Really torn, Smith says he doesn’t expect a decision immediately after the Grand Final – win or lose – and that it will take time before any announcements are made
Kangaroo and Queensland legend says he’s not looking for a « sign » the game is over
« Once this game is over, I’ll think it over and make a decision, » Smith said
« A lot of people have said whether or not we get a good result on Sunday and that will determine things, but I can confirm that it won’t make a difference whether we win or lose
If it is not Smith’s age, the age of his children seems to be a determining factor in his decision
Eldest daughter Jada is in first grade in high school while son Jasper is 10 and youngest daughter Matilda is eight
« The sacrifices you make in your personal life and the commitment it takes to play in the NRL, for me, it’s about weighing that, » Smith told the Matty Johns Family Podcast. / p>
« I am 37 years old and that means my family is also growing and my children are starting to age a bit
« My oldest daughter is 12 and they are starting to do a lot of things in their own life
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Cameron Smith, Melbourne Storm, National Rugby League, Alex McKinnon, Newcastle Knights, Fox League, Penrith Panthers
World News – UA – « No emotion »: Alex McKinnon opens up about Cameron Smith ‘hates’
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
