Why outrage over players not singing Australian anthem misses the point, opinion and analysis, Paul Crawley

It is ridiculous to suggest that anyone who doesn’t sing Advance Australia Fair should not be allowed to play for the Kangaroos or Jillaroos.

Instead, surely the debate should be about whether it is time to rethink our national anthem —and come up with a different song that doesn’t continue to divide our country.

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Like clockwork, the outrage exploded over the weekend after a few Aussie players stood silent during the national anthems.

It seems every time Australia plays a rugby league Test match, this same story gets regurgitated.

There is no argument that as an Australian it is incredibly sad that not all our players show the same passion as other nations at the World Cup when belting out the anthem.

But when will people realise making it compulsory to sing is not going to solve the problem.

It is not that these individuals who choose not to sing don’t love and respect Australia.

It’s that they don’t love and respect the song.

There is a huge difference.

Whether you like it or not, it is a fact Advance Australia Fair is divisive for many Indigenous Australians.

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Yet it wasn’t as if players who chose not to sing during the opening matches were going down on one knee to make their point.

They just didn’t sing.

Surely that is an individual’s right when living in a democracy.

You might remember this same issue blew up a few years back when former Australian captain Max Krilich said in 2023 that if players “don’t want to sing the anthem then don’t play for the Kangaroos”.

While I have total respect for Max who is as entitled to his opinion as the rest of us, the players who choose not to sing are also entitled to their choices.

Whether you agree with them or not.

And I thought the response from then Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga at the time hit the nail on the head when Mal declared in response to Max’s comments that it comes down to personal preference.

“They’ve grown up with certain values, certainly with their families and those values have got to be respected,” Mal said in 2023.

“I think it’s up to the individual. I personally sing the national anthem because I’m a proud Australian.

“There’s no doubt that they’re not less passionate Australians, they’re not less passionate people that want to put the green and gold jersey on… they’ve just got a value set that’s different and I think that needs to be recognised and acknowledged.”

People old enough will also remember Advance Australia Fair only became our anthem in the 1970s.

Before that it was God Save the Queen.

It’s not as if this was the song the diggers were singing as they set off for the First and Second World War.

And let’s be fair dinkum about another thing when it comes to our anthem.

Over the years it is not only Indigenous Australians who haven’t always warmed to Advance Australia Fair.

We just can’t deny it isn’t the greatest sounding anthem out there on the world stage.

And I can certainly think of a few different songs I would prefer.

‘I am Australian’ would be at the top of my list.

Regardless, what we can’t ignore is that these players are still out there putting their bodies on the line to represent the Kangaroos and Jillaroos.

To me that shows they love and respect Australia just as much as anyone else.

They could have easily made themselves unavailable for the tournament if they did not want to play for Australia.

But they are out there in mid-October after a long and tough season playing the most demanding contact sport there is on the planet.

Just because a few choose not to sing the anthem doesn’t make them any less proud or deserving to represent Australia.

KATOA SHOWS WHY TONGA WILL CHALLENGE KANGAROOS AND KIWIS

As for the footy, I’m absolutely loving this World Cup.

Even allowing for some of the blowout scorelines, the courage, athleticism and skill on display in every game so far is such a great advertisement for international rugby league.

And to have the likes of Tonga, Samoa and Fiji showing how far they have come over the last decade has set up what will be an enthralling end to the tournament as they try and challenge the might of the Kangaroos and Kiwis.

I thought Tonga in particular was superb with Isaiya Katoa pulling the strings in the 30-12 win over England.

While the Poms forwards really took it to Tonga with Victor Radley and Max King leading the charge, Katoa’s composure and ability to ice the big moments was the difference.

I just can’t believe Katoa is still only 22.

Haumole Olakau’atu and Robert Toia were the other standouts for Tonga.

SAMOA AND FIJI ALSO IMPRESSIVE

Samoa were also super impressive as 78-4 winners over a brave French side who despite the scoreline, never stopped trying.

Sure, France was completely outclassed.

But the effort and courage was undeniable.

While it was 14 tries to one, it should be said that the one try France did score was a ripper and just highlighted their spirit to keep fighting despite the odds being stacked against them.

Fiji also showed in the 40-12 win over Cook Islands why the Kangaroos will need to be on their game when they meet this Sunday.

Fiji will need to improve their completion rate which was only 73 per cent.

But they certainly don’t lack flair, and I never stop marvelling at the creativity of Api Koroisau out of dummy half.