Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'Be proud but understand what you're being proud of' - NRL star criticises Indigenous version of Advance Australia Fair

(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Indigenous NRL star Latrell Mitchell has hit out after history was made at Saturday night’s Wallabies Test when the national anthem was sung in two languages for the first time in Australian sport.

ADVERTISEMENT

Before the Aussies’ Rugby Championship clash against Argentina, which ended in a 16-all draw, a spine-tingling rendition of Advance Australia Fair was performed both in English and in the Eora language.

Olivia Fox, a young singer from the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, belted out the stirring rendition of the anthem as many rugby fans praised the unique acknowledgement of Australia’s Indigenous people.

However, Mitchell wasn’t among them.

“When will people understand that changing it to language doesn’t change the meaning!” he posted on Instagram with a face-palm emoji.

“Be proud but understand what you’re being proud of.

“I stand for us, our mob! Be proud of the oldest living culture.

“Always was, always will be.”

Mitchell is a proud Indigenous man and appeared in this year’s NRL marketing campaign with the Aboriginal flag draped across his back.

During last year’s State of Origin series, the NSW centre made headlines when he protested against the anthem by refusing to sing, as did Blues teammates Cody Walker, Josh Addo-Carr and Blake Ferguson.

Mitchell didn’t play in this year’s Origin series but the anthem protests from players continued.

The South Sydney fullback may not have loved the national anthem on Saturday night but plenty of others did.

The Daily Telegraph’s Jamie Pandaram posted on Twitter: “Absolutely fantastic: every Wallabies player sung the first half of the national anthem in Indigenous language. Learned the words. Paid respect. A great step forward.”

Video Spacer

Coach Dave Rennie and captain Michael Hooper reflect on the Wallabies’ 16-all draw with the Pumas in Sydney.

Video Spacer

Coach Dave Rennie and captain Michael Hooper reflect on the Wallabies’ 16-all draw with the Pumas in Sydney.

Rugby Australia reporter Christy Doran also called the spectacle “spine-tingling”.

“The finest rendition of the Australian national anthem. That was brilliant. Never felt more proud of our anthem. Well done Olivia Fox,” he posted on Twitter.

The Wallabies’ official Twitter profile called it a “goosebumps” moment while Australian Paralympic legend Richard Coleman wrote: “That is one incredible national anthem @wallabies! As an athlete every time the Australian anthem is performed it should be done this way. I would love to win a gold medal and hear this playing loud and proud, so inspiring.”

It was reported this week the Wallabies playing group had been learning the lyrics in Eora to show the team is serious about recognising the role of First Nations people in the sport.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 32 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

41 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Rugby fugitive Rocky Elsom in hiding after fleeing Ireland Rugby fugitive Rocky Elsom in hiding after fleeing Ireland
Search