The Knights’ chaos has worsened after it was revealed they snubbed former forward Alex McKinnon during a fundraising event at their match on the weekend.
McKinnon, who became a quadriplegic after a tackle went wrong while playing for Newcastle against Melbourne 11 years ago, paid for his own ticket to watch last Saturday’s match against the Storm at McDonald Jones Stadium, according to a NewsCorp report.
The former second-rower, who has previously worked for the Knights as a recruitment scout, was part of one of the most emotional moments in club history when former teammate Kurt Gidley wheeled him onto the ground for the Rise for Alex round before a full house in 2014.
McKinnon was unaware last Saturday until he was informed by a fellow fan on the hill that the Knights had partnered with local charity, Stronger Together, an organisation which provides support for those who have been affected by spinal cord injury.
But in a sign of the lack of attention to detail at the Knights, nobody had contacted McKinnon to see if he would like to be part of the fundraising drive for an organisation which helps people like him.
As a high-profile former Knights player, he would have been an ideal choice to help raise awareness and much-needed funds.
The club has apologised to McKinnon and described it as an “oversight”.
Players in the dark over Ponga, O’Brien
Newcastle players are in the dark about the future of coach Adam O’Brien and superstar Kalyn Ponga, with centre Bradman Best saying they haven’t heard anything about the duo departing the club.
Sitting 13th on the NRL ladder with just six wins, there are reports O’Brien will be shown the door at season’s end despite making the finals in four of the last five years.
Ponga still has two years left on his deal, but the Knights captain has been linked to a lucrative proposed breakaway rugby union competition in the northern hemisphere.
“There’s a bit going on outside these four walls, but I guess that’s the media and it comes with the job,” Best said on Tuesday.
“Us and the playing group haven’t looked too much into it.
“We all know it’s a business at the end of the day; coach is still coaching, KP (Ponga) is still here.
Kalyn Ponga and Fletcher Sharpe. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
“Until it comes from them, then we’ll know – I haven’t heard anything.”
Striving for their third title and first since 2001, Best hoped Ponga will decide to see out his contract, particularly with playmaker Dylan Brown joining the club next year from Parramatta.
The club has struggled in attack this season, sitting way down the bottom of the ladder in points scored.
But he understood the gun fullback needed to make whatever call suited his future.
“He’s a big part of the club and he’s our captain, but it’s his decision,” the 23-year-old said.
“I’ve been here the whole time he’s been here so we have a bit of a connection, but if he does go we have other fullbacks like Sharpey (Fletcher Sharpe) and Fletcher Hunt and other lads to do the job.
“If he stays then he stays.”
Taking over the club in 2020, O’Brien’s future is also uncertain despite denials from the Knights head office.
Ahead of their home clash with the Warriors on Sunday, Best said all the players could do to save his job was to start winning.
“We’ve been here before and we always hear that coach’s head is on the chopping block, but he’s still here today,” Best said.
“We’ve just got to keep on winning and there’s still finals footy to play.
“It’s been a bit of an up and down season, but we’re building, we’re all connected, and we’ll get our way out of it.
“There are good young lads coming through and a good core group of us who are still here, signed for a few more years, so I’m definitely thinking positively about the future.”
with AAP
