State of Origin national anthem protest continues as seven players REFUSE to sing along to ‘Advance Australia Fair’ before crucial decider – as Queensland take an early lead
- Protest against the national anthem continued during build up to third game
- Players refused to sing Advance Australia Far as NSW and Queensland lined up
- Indigenous players said the song does not represent them and so boycotted it
A protest against the national anthem has continued during the build up to the third and deciding State of Origin game.
Seven players refused to sing ‘Advance Australia Fair’ as New South Wales and Queensland lined up for the anthem at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Wednesday night.
A group of Indigenous and Pacific Island players from both sides did not sing the anthem in the two previous games in the series.
NSW took an early lead in the game through a penalty goal to James Maloney before Felise Kaufusi scored the first try of the game for Queensland.
Paul Vaughan hit back for NSW as the front-rower dotted down just before halftime to level the scores.
Felise Kaufusi (centre) opened the scoring for Queensland by pouncing on a clever grubber kick
A protest against the national anthem has continued during the build up to the third and deciding State of Origin game
Seven players including Josh Addo-Carr (pictured) refused to sing ‘Advance Australia Fair’ as New South Wales and Queensland lined up for the anthem at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Wednesday night
A group of Indigenous and Pacific Island players from both sides did not sing the anthem in the two previous games in the series
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was spotted in the crowd wearing a NSW scarf, watching the game with ARL chairman Peter Beattie and NRL boss Todd Greenberg
Kaufusi latched onto a clever grubber to score Queensland’s first points.
The try was converted, giving the Maroons an early 6-2 lead over NSW.
After a series of penalties, Ethan Lowe kicked a penalty for Queensland to push the lead out to 8-2 after 30 minutes.
Vaughan muscled his way through three Queensland defenders near the goalposts to make it 8-all.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was spotted in the crowd wearing a NSW scarf, watching the game with ARL chairman Peter Beattie and NRL boss Todd Greenberg.
Before the series opener in Brisbane, Blues teammates Josh Addo-Carr and Cody Walker vowed not to sing the national anthem.
‘The anthem doesn’t represent us as Indigenous people. We have to change it,’ Addo-Carr told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Felise Kaufusi’s (pictured) try gave Queensland the lead after James Maloney’s penalty goal for NSW
Queensland were hoping to cause an upset at ANZ Stadium by defeating the home team in the series decider. Pictured: Corey Oates of Queensland gets tangled up in a tackle
Tom Trbojevic of the Blues is tackled during game three of the 2019 State of Origin series
‘I am a proud Australian man but a proud Indigenous man, too. If it’s not going to stand for my people, why should I sing it?’
Walker said not singing the anthem was him expressing his ‘opinion’.
‘I’m not pushing my views on anyone, it’s just how me and my family have grown up and how I feel. I’ve already voiced my opinion, and I want to reiterate it’s just my opinion,’ he said.
NSW took an early lead in the game before Queensland struck back. Pictured: Queensland’s Ben Hunt tries to evade Blues defenders