St Gregory’s College headmaster wishes former student Alex McKinnon well for injury recovery

ST GREGORY’S College headmaster Damien Millar believes former student Alex McKinnon embodied the school motto while working towards his NRL dream.

“WHAT you sow, so shall you reap.”

St Gregory’s College, Campbelltown headmaster Damien Millar believes former student Alex McKinnon embodied the school motto while working towards his NRL dream and that would carry the Newcastle Knight through an estimated two-year recovery period.

McKinnon, 22, was placed in an induced coma in Melbourne’s The Alfred Hospital on Tuesday after fracturing his C4 and C5 vertebrae in a tackle during the Knights’ 28-20 loss to Melbourne Storm on Monday night.

Millar believes McKinnon, who represented the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges team at the 2009 Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Under-18s Championships, has the “determination and perseverance to recover”.

Former St Gregory’s College students and now NRL players Matthew Groat, left, Jack Stockwell and Alex McKinnon before the 2008 NSW under-16s State of Origin series.

“Alex is in our thoughts and prayers most definitely and we hope he comes through in the best possible way,” he told the Macarthur Chronicle.

“He was so disciplined in his studies and absolutely committed to his career in football. They would be the two big things I think will carry him through his recovery period.

“But also the amazing support from his loving family and friends will play a big part.”

Millar said McKinnon “personified” the school motto — which teaches students that benefits come from hard work — while juggling his rise through the ranks of the St George Illawarra Dragons with high school studies.

“He was a quiet achiever; a very humble sort of person who related well to his peers and got on well with the staff,” he said.

Alex McKinnon during Newcastle Knights NRL training session at Newcastle University.

“I arrived in 2009 and was there for his last year, but I picked up that he was an exemplary student. He embodied everything the St Gregory’s motto stands for and I believe he will pull through.

“Everyone knew him as a wonderful young man. We’re all signing cards and putting in messages of support from everyone here at the school to send him.”