NRL scraps national anthem at State of Origin series

Advance Australia Fair will no longer feature at the 2020 State of Origin series after a decision was made by the National Rugby League on Wednesday to scrap the national anthem.

QLD Maroons and NSW Blues players line up for the National Anthem before Game 1 of the 2019 State of Origin series.

QLD Maroons and NSW Blues players line up for the National Anthem before Game 1 of the 2019 State of Origin series. Source: AAP

The National Rugby League has made the decision to scrap the National Anthem at the State of Origin series, a year after Indigenous players from NSW took a stand not to sing it. 

The decision was made by the independent commission after consultation with representatives from the NSW and QLD organisations. 

Last year NSW Blues stars, Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Josh Addo-Carr spoke out before the game about their refusal to sing.

Indigenous All Stars captain Cody Walker said the anthem "doesn't represent myself and my family."

"We as a group need to come together, as a country ... and make some sort of decision together [around the anthem]," he added.

It is understood the explanation given by the NRL to scrap the anthem was that the State of Origin event is not a contest between international countries.

It is also understood that the NSW Rugby League was against the decision to drop the anthem. 

Earlier this year the ARL Commission took on the feedback of Indigenous players and scrapped the national anthem at the annual All Stars match.

The anthem will remain for grand finals and Test matches.

Adelaide Oval will host the first game of the 2020 State of Origin series on Wednesday next week, where the anthem will not be sung. 

NITV News has contacted the NRL for comment.

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2 min read
Published 29 October 2020 1:51pm
By Douglas Smith
Source: NITV News


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