NRL Icon Calls Australian Athletes' Anthem Silence 'Ridiculous,' Suggests New National Song
Mark 'Spudd' Carroll voiced his criticism of players who did not sing the national anthem at the Rugby League World Cup, while also questioning if a new anthem could foster greater unity.
Rugby league legend Mark 'Spudd' Carroll has described the silence of some Australian players during the national anthem as "ridiculous." His comments came after several Kangaroos and Jillaroos players appeared not to sing "Advance Australia Fair" before the Rugby League World Cup opener on October 15.
Carroll noted that the sight of some players singing while others remained silent looked "wrong." He shared his personal experience, stating, "I always dreamed about playing for my country and also to sing." However, he also suggested that Australia might benefit from an anthem that resonates more broadly with its population, potentially encouraging more individuals to sing.
"I just think, if you don't wanna sing, we need to have an anthem that everyone in Australia is so proud to sing," Carroll said.
Despite his criticism, Carroll conceded that the decision to sing or not is ultimately up to each individual player. "It's been a bit of a blow-up in the media. Everyone's got an opinion. It's their decision," he added.
Following the match, former Manly player Peter 'Zorba' Peters advocated for a stricter stance, suggesting that players who refuse to sing the national anthem while representing Australia should be banned from playing. "Don't you hate it when players, men and women, don't sing the national anthem," Peters stated on Sky Sports Radio's Big Sports Breakfast Weekend. "I want a coach that's strong enough... that says, 'If you don't sing the national anthem in our colours, you don't play'."
A recent news.com.au poll indicated that approximately three-quarters of over 13,000 respondents believe all Australian athletes should sing the anthem. Less than 20 percent felt it should be an individual choice, while five percent pointed to the anthem itself as the issue.
Former Australian captain Laurie Daley revealed that he also did not sing the anthem during his international playing career, explaining it was a personal choice and not indicative of a lack of national pride. "Why do you have to sing the anthem to feel passionate about your country?" Daley questioned on Sky Sports Radio. "I never sang the anthem. I just didn't want to sing, but that doesn't make me not proud of Australia."
Kangaroos star Cameron Munster defended the team's pride in representing Australia, stating after their opening win over New Zealand, "We're very proud to wear the green and gold. It's something that we pride ourselves on."