Wellbeing Officers Ken Vessey, Norm Pounder and Fred Jackson from the Northern Sydney Committee visited a rehabilitation hospital for people impacted by spinal cord and brain injuries. They took the opportunity to meet 16-year-old Alex Noble and his delightful Mum, Kylie. The team were delighted to be accompanied by NRL player Curtis Sironen of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on his first Men of League Foundation wellbeing visit.
In October 2018, Alex was tragically injured in a training session with the Under 17 NSW Rugby Sevens Youth Selection Squad , in which he damaged his spinal cord and underwent a gruelling 6 hours operation at the Royal North Shore Hospital ,where a metal rod was inserted between his C 4 and C 6 vertebrae at the front/back of his neck to stabilise his spinal cord .After spending a month in the Spinal Unit he was transferred to Royal Rehab for an extensive rehabilitation course which he hopes to complete soon and return home.
Alex has adopted a war cry “I Fight You Fight” as he shows tremendous courage in his long road to recovery and has been supported along the way by his loving extended family and his many friends plus the broader community.
Alex grew up locally in the Ryde / Putney areas, going to Putney Primary School, Holy Cross College School and now St. Ignatius College, where he bravely attends one day per week, completing assignments at Royal Rehab. In rugby league he played as a halfback for the North Sydney Junior Rugby League Harold Matthews Shield Representative team, Holy Cross Junior Rugby League teams before switching to rugby union as a fly half with St. Ignatius College teams.
We have all heard about great sportsmen having a huge heart and it evident by the tremendous toughness Alex demonstrates each day.
Naturally he freely spoke about the NRL with Curtis and our volunteers and he proudly announced he supported the Melbourne Storm.
