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BEN Ross is planning to contact hospitalised Newcastle Knights forward Alex McKinnon with a simple message: 'focus on life, not footy'.
If anyone can understand the depth of pain, confusion and uncertainty which has consumed McKinnon's past 48 hours, it's Ross.
The former Cronulla Sharks prop was sidelined from the NRL for two years after breaking his neck in the opening round of the 2009 season.
Doctors told Ross he may never walk again, let alone play football. But step-by-step, day-by-day, he regained his strength to produce one of sport's truly inspiring comebacks when he returned in the NRL for South Sydney.
Ben Ross is stretchered from field with a suspected neck injury. Source: News Limited
He retired last year having played 173 first-grade games.
Now working for the Men of League Foundation, Ross was re-acquainted with memories of his own recovery when learning yesterday of the spinal injuries suffered by McKinnon, which have placed the young Newcastle forward's career on hold.
"It's hard, he wouldn't know where his career is at right now,'' Ross said.
"He'd be wondering what they're going to do. How they're going to go about things. All these things rush through your head.
"Of course, you want to play footy again and he'd want to know the outcome, but they won't know until after the operation, which is the scary thing.
Ben Ross is tackled during a clash between the Rabbitohs and NSW Cup side Newtown, in a NRL trial. Source: News Limited
"You just have to have faith in the surgeons and the medical staff, which I'm sure he's in the best hands.''
Ross said thoughts of playing rugby league again, for the time being, should be the furthest thing from McKinnon's mind.
"I remember I said to the doctors before the operation, 'Will I ever be able to play again?' And he said; 'We'll see if you can walk first.'
"That was when I knew I had to get my priorities straight. Recovering was the first thing I had to do and so I focused on ticking that box.
Alex McKinnon falls awkwardly in clash against the Storm. Scans reveal he has fractured his vertebrae. Source: FoxSports
"I'd like to speak to Alex when the time is right, just to tell him he can pull through this.''
Knights officials and doctors have declared it is too premature to discuss what the future may hold for McKinnon.
McKinnon would be aware of Ross' story, so too Queensland's Gorden Tallis and Penrith prop Sam McKendry, who both managed to return to the playing field from neck injuries.
But at 22, McKinnon seemingly has his life in front of him, which as Ross suggested, is more important than football.
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