How true are these words spoken by Jordan McLean's legal representative Nick Ghabar shortly before the Melbourne Storm player was slapped with a seven-game suspension by the NRL judiciary panel.

There are no winners from this terrible ordeal.

The NRL, rugby league in general, Jordan McLean and, most of all, Newcastle player Alex McKinnon have all been knocked backwards in a big way.

The NRL and rugby league will recover.

There has been countless incidents during the game's history which have threatened to sour its reputation but the sport continues to thrive around the world.

People aren't going to stop watching rugby league because of McKinnon's horrific injury.

Well, you would hope not anyway.

For McLean, he will be haunted by "that tackle" and the series of events following it for a long time to come.

And for McKinnon, his life will never be the same.

Spectators, players and sports fans everywhere are reeling from the incident which has left McKinnon with a serious neck injury.

Even Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke penned a touching piece earlier this week offering his sympathies to the McKinnon family.

While everyone's thoughts and sympathy should be focused on McKinnon and his recovery, we should also spare a thought for McLean.

The 22-year-old is just beginning his NRL career and looks to have a bright future ahead of him.

While suspending him for seven matches isn't going to alter his playing ability in the long-run, the affect it has on him mentally could be detrimental.

Storm teammate Ryan Hinchcliffe was quoted this week saying McLean is "just getting by", suggesting the young player is struggling to come to terms with what happened on that fateful Monday night.

He was stood down for the following week's game but later granted permission to play, as the club was reportedly concerned for McLean's wellbeing.

Watching replays of the tackle, it's hard to detect any malice in McLean's approach.

It was a regulation tackle which ended badly.

Yes, McKinnon was tipped in the tackle and it probably deserved a penalty.

But seven weeks seems an excessive suspension, especially considering the sensitivity of the situation.

It is reported McLean was found guilty of a grade two dangerous tackle, which carries 325 points.

The judiciary handed him 725 points overall, meaning 400 loading points were added to the original charge.

It was revealed yesterday the added 400 points were a direct result of the broken neck suffered by McKinnon.

"We came here tonight with Jordan feeling that the tackle that led to the terrible accident was really no different to hundreds of tackles you see like that in the NRL every season," said Storm chief executive Mark Evans.

It's true - almost on a weekly basis you would easily find at least one tackle worse than McLean's on McKinnon.

The difference? The injury sustained by the ball holder.

On any other night, McKinnon may have stood up and played the ball following the tackle.

Unfortunately for McKinnon, McLean, the NRL and rugby league, this time was a different story.

It sets a dangerous precedent for the NRL judiciary.

Will every injury sustained be examined later to find fault in an opposition player?

You see players attempt to belt opposition numbers with their fists who get leaner penalties than that of McLean.

Maybe the NRL should focus on intent, rather than the aftermath of an incident, when deciding guilt.