Alex McKinnon swipes ‘insensitive’ Newcastle Knights blunder

Former NRL player Alex McKinnon has taken to social media to hit out at his former club over farcical scenes that unfolded on the weekend.

Former Newcastle Knights enforcer Alex McKinnon has taken to social media and labelled the club “insensitive” after farcical scenes unfolded at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Saturday.

McKinnon, who became a quadriplegic from a tackle gone wrong while playing for the red and blue in 2014, purchased his on ticket and sat on the hill with his family as the club locked horns with the Melbourne Storm on Saturday.

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Prior to the game getting underway, ambassadors from Stronger Together - a spinal support organisation that provides support for those affected by spinal cord injuries - were out on the field promoting their charity work.

Not only was he not asked to be part of the day, he was also not informed that the promotional activity would be taking place ahead of the contest.

On Wednesday morning, McKinnon took to Instagram to let his feelings known about the situation.

“In short, I wasn’t personally upset by the weekend’s events, if anything I found the irony of it being against the Storm a bit funny,” he wrote on social media.

Alex McKinnon had to pay for his own ticket just to sit on the hill at the weekend. Image: Kayo/Getty

“It felt like a missed opportunity to connect with the Storm and back a great cause, raising funds and awareness for those living with spinal cord injuries.

“David and Kath from Stronger Together Foundation are incredible people. I caught up with them on Thursday and knew their charity was the match day partner.

“They kindly asked me to be involved, but I had other commitments. I fully supported them from afar.

“What disappointed my family (and many who reached out) was the club’s lack of communication and awareness. In my view, not reaching out beforehand was an insensitive oversight.

“As for tickets, I regularly buy them for my family to sit on the hill, I have for years.

“I love the game day experience and sharing it with my kids. I’m a fan.”

McKinnon was severely injured during a tackle in 2014. Pic Brett Costello

Veteran journalist David Riccio unleashed on the club while pointing the finger at CEO Phil Gardner for being out of touch.

“It illustrates how out of touch Gardener is with what makes Newcastle great. It’s history. It’s passion. It’s people,” Riccio wrote in an article for Code Sports.

“Of all the home games this season that the Knights could have chosen, they selected a home game against the Melbourne Storm to promote a spinal cord charity.

“The Knights have had eight previous home games and still have three more to go.”

Members of the Newcastle staff reportedly contacted McKinnon to personally apologise for what they described as “an oversight”.

The Knights will return to McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon to face the rampaging Warriors.

Originally published as Alex McKinnon swipes ‘insensitive’ Newcastle Knights blunder