Ex-NRL star Alex McKinnon graduates from University of Newcastle a decade on from tragic accident

A decade after suffering a devastating spinal injury while playing in the NRL, Alex McKinnon tells David Riccio that he has achieved the one goal in his life that he never thought possible.

Alex McKinnon refuses to stop striving forward, accomplishing what he describes as the greatest achievement of his life.

A decade after suffering a devastating spinal injury while playing in the NRL, McKinnon has graduated with a degree from Newcastle University.

The former Knights forward has earned a Bachelor of Psychological Science after studying for the past three years.

The 32-year-old will be formally recognised at a graduation ceremony on Thursday night where he will be surrounded by his parents, daughter Harriet and partner Lily, who he first met last year at the University.

An emotional McKinnon said that his degree was the result of realising he needed to “start all over again” when he was diagnosed as a quadriplegic following a tackle gone-wrong at the age of 22.

Former Newcastle player Alex McKinnon has graduated with a Bachelor of Psychological Science degree from the University of Newcastle.

“For certain, this is one of the best things I have been able to conquer,” McKinnon said.

“One of the biggest frustrations when I got injured was that I had spent my whole life, 22-years, trying fine tune myself as an athlete to compete.

“And when all that gets taken away from you, its soul destroying. Not only do you lose your identity, but all that hard work that you put in is now worth nothing.

“Sure, I learned lessons along the way, but all those tools I did learn, I can’t use them anymore.

“So basically, you have to start again.

“I looked over the last 10-years to try and find something that stimulates those competitive juices and stimulated my want to learn more.

“By no means did I believe in myself that I could actually do this and by no means three years on, do I believe that I’ve actually done it.

“I doubted my ability to succeed academically. I thought I had no chance. But once I found something I cared about, everything changed.

“Now I’ve done it, it actually doesn’t feel real.”

McKinnon laying on the ground after the tackle that left him as a quadriplegic. Picture: Getty Images

McKinnon, who oversaw recruitment for the Knights in 2019, said it was the experience of identifying talent and developing up-and-coming players that sparked his interest in psychology.

“When I was working with young people in the pathway program, I noticed that the players who excelled weren’t just physically talented; they had a psychological edge,” McKinnon said.

“They could overcome adversity, stay disciplined, and remain focused, and those traits often contributed to their success.”

McKinnon said the recruitment process in professional sport involves more than assessing athletic ability.

“You’re trying to understand who these players are — what drives them, their resilience, their values, and the challenges they’ve overcome,” he said.

“That’s the part of the process that really captivated me.”

Juggling his studies with corporate speaking and also working for the nib Group as the Career Pathway Programs Lead, McKinnon said the skills he’s learnt from the degree are transferable across a variety of roles from counselling to business psychology, human resources and marketing.

McKinnon served as the Newcastle Knights’ head of junior recruitment, before parting ways with the club in 2022. Picture: NRL Photos

McKinnon added that he’s interested in using the knowledge and tools he’s obtained at University by talking to NRL clubs about working one-on-one with players to aid their mental resolve.

McKinnon has already been invited to continue his studies and complete an honours degree next year.

“Ultimately, I’m hoping to continue studying to become a registered psychologist,” McKinnon said.

“Going to university has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life.”