NRL Indigenous All-Stars refuse to sing Australian national anthem – after Maori superstars proudly perform the New Zealand’s chorus
- Controversy has raged after a pre-match stance during the NRL’s All Stars game
- More than half the Indigenous All Stars refused to sing for the Australian anthem
- Just minutes later all were involved when they performed Indigenous war dance
- In contrast the Maori All Stars sung New Zealand anthem, which has Maori verse
Controversy has raged after more than half the Indigenous team refused to sing as Australia’s national anthem played in the lead up to the NRL All Stars game.
The rugby league showcase between the Indigenous All Stars and Maori All Stars has been overshadowed by the strong stance by a number of the league’s top players.
As ‘Advance Australia Fair’ was sung during the pre-game, several of the Indigenous team – including superstars Blake Ferguson and Latrell Mitchell – remained silent.
Controversy has raged after more than half the Indigenous team refused to sing as Australia’s national anthem played in the lead up to the NRL All Stars game
Indigenous skipper Cody Walker said post-match that he wasn’t comfortable with a version of the Australian anthem being played at the game.
‘To be honest no (it shouldn’t be played) – it just brings back so many memories from what’s happened and I think everyone in Australia needs to get together and work something out,’ he said.
‘It doesn’t represent me and my family.’
The strong opposition to the national anthem divided those watching on TV at home, with plenty taking to social media to have their say on the stance.
‘Reconciliation is a two way street… (but) I didn’t see one aboriginal sing the national anthem,’ one man commented.
‘Pretty disappointed to see most of the Australian Indigenous team not sing our national anthem. The Maori boys sang theirs,’ another said.
The strong stance by the Indigenous All Stars team divided rugby league fans, with hundreds sharing their view on the matter on social media (Pictured)
But while some disagreed with the stance, others claimed it was inappropriate to be playing the national anthem at a game involving two indigenous sides.
‘Why on earth would you sing the commonwealth-based Aussie anthem in an Indigenous game?’ one woman wrote on Twitter.
‘I’m so proud of the Aboriginal team during the NRL All Stars game anthem. Advance Australia Fair was written during a time the indigenous weren’t considered humans… Why should they sing a song that does not represent them?’ commented another.
‘NRL completely missed the mark with the AU Anthem for the NRL All Stars and players reaction (or lack of) said it all,’ one man wrote.
Just minutes after more than half the team had refused to sing the anthem, they united on the AAMI Stadium turf for an Indigenous war dance – led by their 21-year-old star Latrell Mitchell
The Indigenous All Stars defeated the Maori All Stars 34-14 in front of 18,000 fans
But just minutes after more than half the team had refused to sing the anthem, they united on the AAMI Stadium turf for a war dance.
Led by their 21-year-old star Mitchell, the players performed the impressive dance to cheers from the local crowd.
By contrast the majority of the Maori All Stars team sung the whole of New Zealand’s national anthem, which includes a Maori verse.
The Indigenous All Stars defeated the Maori All Stars 34-14 in front of 18,000 fans.