NRL cops a kicking from PM, backflips over plan to scrap national anthem from Origin
The NRL has backflipped on its decision to scrap the national anthem at Wednesday’s State of Origin opener after an intervention from Australian prime minister Scott Morrison.
Barely two hours after the decision was made to can the anthem from the pre-match ceremony, ARLC chairman Peter Vâlandys has bowed to backlash and reinstated it.
Itâs understood Morrison intervened by contacting Vâlandys and pleading the case for strong national unity after a year of hardship.
âThe original decision not to play the anthem at Origin was about the rivalry and tribalism associated with the Origin Series,â ARLC chairman Peter Vâlandys said.
âHowever, having listened to the public response and given the strong national unity in fighting the COVID pandemic together, the commission has decided it is important to ensure that unity continues.
âWe have always been a commission that listens to our fans. We have heard the message and acted accordingly.â
After the decision was revealed, Vâlandys received a call from Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who said fans would not support the removal of the anthem.
âThis is a welcome decision by the NRL. The NRL have done the right thing by listening to their fans and acting quickly to overturn their choice not to play the national anthem at the Origin series,â the Prime Minister said.
âWe have all faced a year of struggle and heartbreak and it has never been more important to be coming together to celebrate Australia and to be able to sing together our national anthem at the game so many of us love.â
The about-face follows an ARLC commission meeting on Wednesday night with representatives from NSWRL and the QRL, where the decision was made to scrap the anthem.
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Last yearâs series was dominated by the issue when Indigenous Blues trio Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Josh Addo-Carr spoke out before the game about their refusal to sing.
The anthem was also scrapped at the annual All Stars match earlier this year.
However, Vâlandys said the strong backlash forced his decision to reinstate the anthem for Wednesdayâs series opener in Adelaide.
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-AAP, additional reporting ABC
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