It’s more than a game.
For Alex McKinnon, this round is less about him and more about his family.
Round 4 of the 2019 season will mark the fifth time the nib Newcastle Knights have faced St George Illawarra for the Alex McKinnon Cup.
The Knights have never won the cup. But that doesn’t matter to McKinnon.
“Rugby league has been a big part of my family’s life and with myself getting injured, week in week out probably not what my family goes to anymore, they don’t go to the football as much as they used to,” McKinnon said.
“This Cup gives them the opportunity to come and support the Knights and watch both teams play.
“The Knights had never won the Cup and I don’t take that to heart at all because I know that deep down, they want to do their best but unfortunately the result of the game hasn’t gone their way.”
This Cup was first played for in 2015 in honor the backrower, whose career was cut short when he suffered a spinal injury in 2014.
He debuted for the Dragons in 2011 before moving to the Knights where he made 46 Club appearances.
“I am very lucky that they agreed to do that in 2015 after my injury,” McKinnon said.
“I’ve also got a lot of friends in both areas, from down at Illawarra when I played my juniors at the dragons and obviously my first-grade career at the Newcastle Knights.”
