Queensland star Will Chambers has joined NSW rivals Cody Walker and Josh Addo-Carr by announcing he won’t sing the national anthem at next week’s State of Origin opener.
Chambers says Advance Australia Fair doesn’t represent indigenous Australians and he’s made the choice to stay silent during the anthem on Wednesday night at Suncorp Stadium.
While Chambers says his decision is a personal one, he is also hopeful it’s part of a wider awakening about the anthem’s disconnect with indigenous Australians.
“It doesn’t represent us,” said Chambers, an Aborigine from Gove in the Northern Territory.
“It’s our personal choice and I won’t be singing.
“If the guys (indigenous Origin players) don’t want to sing it, so be it.
“If enough of us stand by and not sing, maybe one day there will be change and that’s all we can hope for.”
Chambers, with seven Tests for Australia, said as he had learned more about his heritage and history, he’d decided to stop singing the anthem.
After Walker and Chambers’ Melbourne teammate Addo-Carr announced they wouldn’t sing the anthem, ex-Queensland great Johnathan Thurston called for a referendum on the continued use of Advance Australia Fair.
Chambers said for any change to happen, those in power had to support the move.
“I know I do have an impact in the community and the young generations and rugby league in general,” Chambers said.
“There will be people above me who have to make a decision.
“It’s not up for me to make that decision. If they don’t want to acknowledge it (the anthem being changed), then we are banging our heads against a wall.”
bjayz
Guest
everyones cultures are as old as each others? we are all human, we are young in the aspirations of us standing together in new chapters that we have been delt
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Droll means curious, unusual or amusing.
BennO
Roar Rookie
The national anthem should represent all but it doesn't. The song literally refers to the young only, excluding the old. We are mix of people and cultures. The first of which is very old. We are not young but our national song pretends we are to the exclusion of the old. No contradiction from me.
Stevo
Guest
Since when has something had to impact someone for them to get on social media and be outraged on someone else's behalf.
Olo
Guest
pathway number one : let's not vilify someone for not wanting to sing our racist national anthem ... actually maybe that's a bit too hard
JimboJones
Guest
What ? WOTF are you on about ? Trying to trick me with a cryptic question ? I don't eat rats cheese, so keep your smelly rat cheese to yourself.
JimboJones
Guest
Or perhaps ...Puppets .
Brendon
Roar Rookie
Oh don't misunderstand. I'm first gen here, my ancestors and family aren't even involved. I just meant that's the terms that is most used. I don't agree anything was stolen personally, it's the way the world was back then, as horrible as it may have been, its what led to progress. What's done is done.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
You are contradicting yourself. We as in all of us, are young. We as in JUST the indigenous Australians aren't young. As a collective, we are a young country.
Big Daddy
Guest
The new anthem should be the ad where they sing " Football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars". Everyone will be happy. Or We could play the VB ad. Some people don't like the haka but they still do it. The NRL always have an indigenous person ceremony from the tribe that the ground is on and I don't mind that.
Brian George
Guest
But jimbob, you claim to redpect their right to protest?
mushi
Guest
It's as predictable as the false equivalence.
Insider
Roar Rookie
these are cultural issues Olo, your highlighting the worst of society now how about you list the pathways that exist so that many can have a healthy wealthy peaceful existence
Insider
Roar Rookie
Olo you could perish tomorrow mate I wouldn’t lose any sleep
Insider
Roar Rookie
Rellum I live a very comfortable life without a mortgage, have family and I’m healthy, what other choose is up to them. Next time you refer to me as a “white male” make sure you add PROUD IN FRONT OF IT
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Up until recently indigenous footballers in all codes didn't make such a big deal over it. So the anti-anthem individuals are either deep thinkers or just like becoming a headline.
Olo
Guest
Cool man. Must be a hard work keeping your head buried in the sand like that.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Come on Rellum.. What about the golden soil and wealth for toil our grand anthem extols the virtue of...?
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
That explains your bizarre argument
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So easy to say when it never impacted you.