Unbroken

Alex McKinnon

Rugby League was Alex McKinnon's life. Born into a football family, from five years old Alex played junior football with the Aberdeen Tigers at McKinnon Oval, a ground named after his grandfather. A talented and committed young player Alex was signed to the Dragons as a 16 year old and made his NRL debut at 19. Captaining the Junior Kangaroos, and having established himself as an NRL player at 22, Alex was clearly one of the leading players of his generation. However in the 39th minute of the Newcastle Knights vs Melbourne Storm game on March 24 last year, Alex's life changed forever. A tackle gone wrong damaging his spinal cord leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. In the days that followed Alex was told not only was his football career over, but he would likely never walk again. Like any young person in this situation - let alone a professional athlete - this was devastating....