Why it's time for the NRL world to bin the 'ridiculous' national anthem debate for good

OPINION

I loved watching you play the game Spudd but I couldn't disagree more about wanting to see players sing the Australian national anthem before games. Whether or not someone chooses to sing the anthem, doesn't make them any more or less passionate about representing their country and this narrow-minded argument needs to be binned - for good.

League great Mark 'Spudd' Carroll became the latest person to weigh in on a debate that has polarised fans for years after expressing his disappointment at some of the Kangaroos players choosing not to sing the anthem before the Pacific Championship Test against New Zealand last weekend. “As a kid, I dreamt about playing for Australia,” Carroll told SEN radio this week. “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.”

Fair enough, Carroll is entitled to his opinion and nobody should deny him that. But it also needs pointing out that not all players are cut from the same cloth and their right to choose whether or not to sing the national anthem has to be respected. Players should not be called out for failing to do so and their allegiance or passion for their country shouldn't be called into question.

Just as people deal with grief in different ways, so too do players have contrasting ways of demonstrating a love of their country. Some may be naturally introverted, quiet types, who prefer to do their talking with actions on the footy field. Others wear their heart on their sleeve and will invariably be seen belting out the anthem at any given opportunity. Neither approach is right or wrong.

Some players may be so laser-focused on the upcoming match that the only thing going through their head is the coach's tactical instructions and how they're going to perform the task that's been asked of them. And by singing the anthem, it could break that focus and have a negative effect on their performance. Who are we to judge a player if they don't share the same ideals as us?

Indigenous stars have copped backlash for boycotting anthem

Don't even get me started on the racist backlash that some of our Indigenous stars have copped for choosing not to sing the national anthem in the past. Cody Walker famously found himself in the crosshairs of critics for boycotting the signing of the anthem during the 2019 State of Origin series, with fellow Indigenous ace Josh Addo-Carr doing likewise. Some online trolls seemed to just use it as an excuse to make racist attacks on the players.

“I’m not pushing my views on anyone, it’s just how me and my family have grown up and how I feel,” Walker said at the time. “I’ve already voiced my opinion, and I want to reiterate it’s just my opinion." Addo-Carr added: “I’ve forgotten how to sing it. I haven’t been to school in about 10 years. I hardly sing it anyway.

“I am a proud Australian man and an Indigenous man as well. We’re Australians too. Why can’t we recognise the Indigenous people of Australia, how hard can it be?” Since those comments from Addo-Carr, the lyrics to the Australian national anthem have changed from 'For we are young and free' to 'For we are one and free', to recognise the fact our Indigenous inhabitants have called the country home for tens of thousands of years.

Aussie legend slams 'ridiculous' national anthem outrage

Former Kangaroos and Wallabies star Mat Rogers perhaps put it best when he 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."

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I'm a passionate Aussie and would certainly fit into the category of people who choose to sing the anthem loudly and proudly. But I also respect the fundamental right of individuals to make their own choices. No two people are exactly the same and the sooner we embrace that fact and stop getting outraged about players not singing the anthem, the better.