Kangaroos players called out by NRL legend over divisive act during Aussie national anthem

Amid the debate around pre-match war cries and players interacting with each other before kick-off, Mark Carroll has re-ignited questions over whether players should be singing the national anthem. Speaking on SEN radio on Tuesday, the rugby league legend expressed his disappointment when he saw a number of Aussie players not signing the anthem before the Kangaroos and New Zealand clash last weekend in the Pacific Championships.

“As a kid, I dreamt about playing for Australia,” Carroll said. “Just to hear that anthem, I was a (big) singer… I watch the anthem now, it disappoints me if the blokes don’t sing it.”

Carroll played 12 Test matches for Australia in an era when representing your country was the pinnacle of rugby league. But the NRL and State of Origin have both arguably overtaken international football as priorities for players, and some like Carroll believe the Kangaroos jersey has lost its prestige.

But other top figures have defended players in the past, believing the issue of singing the national anthem isn't something that needs to be discussed. Former Kangaroos and Wallabies player Mat Rogers said last year: “I’m over it, like who cares, honestly.

“It’s an antiquated song made 150 years ago that we’re forcing (them) to sing. If they don’t want to sing it, don’t sing it. I didn’t sing it every time I played for Australia … But that didn’t mean I wasn’t proud to play for Australia.

"We’re banging on about stuff that’s just ridiculous, there’s so much more stuff to worry about than someone singing a song, like who cares? If that’s a genuine issue, you’ve got to get more going on in your life."

Debate erupts over pre-match war cries in rugby league Tests

Debate has also erupted about whether players should be making contact with rivals while performing pre-match war cries. The Samoan players performed a passionate rendition of the Siva Tau before their clash with England last weekend, with Manly player Gordon Chan Kum Tong going nose-to-nose with Mikey Lewis and making head-to-head contact.

War cries like the Haka (New Zealand), Siva Tau (Samoa) and Sipi Tau (Tonga) are always widely celebrated, and captivate fans watching. But Corey Parker believes a line should be drawn when it comes to making contact with opposition players.

"I'm all for the war cries but what happens, hypothetically, if Gordon Chan Kum Tong does that and you give him a good, old-fashioned 'don’t argue, get out of my space type thing?' Parker asked on SEN radio. "Is that disrespectful? Are you supposed to just cop it? Do you just wear whatever's going on? If there's a little shove at the start of the game, who's at fault?

"They are right in your face, right in your space. If Gordon Chan Kum Tong came and pressed his head firmly into mine and I was in an Australian jumper…come on, mate, come on. Are we supposed to just cop it because it’s a war cry? I appreciate it, I respect it, but don't come and push your head into mine. I don't know if I would react that kindly."

RELATED:

• Reece Walsh spotted in eye-opening new move at Broncos headquarters

• Latrell Mitchell's telling move at home as photo highlights huge change

Carroll said the war cries were an example of other nations showing pride in their jersey that he'd love to see from Australians. “I love the Haka, the Haka is magnificent," he said. "I love the intensity and passion of each nation, the Tongans, the Samoans and the Kiwis, it means so much to them. (You see) how hard they slap their legs, they have red marks on their legs when they finish.”