The Newcastle Knights league coach Wayne Bennett has challenged his team and the fans to continue rallying round their young forward Alex McKinnon after watching his inspired team crush Cronulla 30-0 for their first NRL win of the season.
McKinnon remains in intensive care in a Melbourne hospital after fracturing two vertebrae against the Melbourne Storm last Monday night, and in a show of support more than 18-thousand fans turned up for the game.
To top off an uplifting day dedicated to McKinnon, the club released a statement after the match which said the 22-year-old's condition had improved slightly, his assisted ventilation has been removed, and he can now communicate with his family.
