Wayne Bennett couldn’t watch 60 Minutes interview with Alex McKinnon

MORE than 1.3 million Australians watched the controversial 60 Minutes interview with Alex McKinnon on Sunday but one man just couldn’t.

Coach Laurie Daley welcomes Alex McKinnon to the NSW Blues training session at The Novatel Pacific Bay Resort , Coffs Harbour .Picture Gregg Porteous

MORE than 1.3 million Australians watched the controversial 60 Minutes interview with Alex McKinnon on Sunday but one man just couldn’t.

Even though his balanced words shone through as the voice of reason on the show, Wayne Bennett, Newcastle coach when McKinnon was felled in the tackle that made him a quadriplegic, decided not to watch.

“I just didn’t want to live through it all again,’’ Bennett said.

“I knew they would have showed the tackle and I just couldn’t watch it.’’

The 60 Minutes documentary triggered a fierce clash of opinions yesterday and there were no winners in the fallout.

Everyone copped it on social media, even the wheelchair-bound McKinnon.

The show was under fire for not featuring any response from Cameron Smith or the Melbourne Storm over McKinnon’s stinging criticism of Smith’s actions in the wake of the tackle, particularly his repeated claims to the referee that McKinnon ducked into it.

CONTROVERSIAL: Why 60 Minutes didn’t contact Cameron Smith

ALEX MCKINNON: ‘Why did Cameron Smith blame me?’

TEAM SUPPORT: Maroons back ‘shocked’ Cameron Smith

Alex McKinnon with Wayne Bennett last year.

Smith was reportedly seething that he was not given the right of reply and while Channel 9 confirmed that they would give him that right for a future program, he is likely to decline that request.

One blog respondent to The Courier-Mail wrote: “I thought 60 minutes went a bit ACA (A Current Affair) on Cam Smith — unwarranted.’’

Smith copped everything — robust support, searing criticism and there were those in the middle who felt his actions in pointing out that McKinnon ducked his head were understandable in the heat of the moment but warranted a retrospective apology, which to this point he has failed to provide.

Every argument seemed to produce a counter response.

A poll on couriermail.com.au asking whether Smith should apologise to McKinnon received roughly 30 per cent yes votes and 70 per cent no.

A “Support Cameron Smith’’ Facebook page started on Monday and had more than 2700 likes and it was clear most Queenslanders were behind his cause and feel he was harshly portrayed as a villain on Sunday night.

Smith decided against commenting publicly on Monday, electing to focus on the big game.

One response to The Courier-Mail’s blog claimed: “Smith is on a hiding to nothing now. If he contacts Alex and clears the air people will just say ‘he did it only because of public and media pressure’. If he doesn’t contact Alex, people will continue to deride his character.’’