Latrell Mitchell hits out over anthem furore in heated Voice swipe
Debate has swirled for days after several Kangaroos Test stars were called out for not singing the national anthem.
South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell has hit out at rugby league legend Max Krilich over the national anthem debate that has divided the game. Krilich was among those to call out Kangaroos Test players for refusing to sing the Australian national anthem before last Saturday's Pacific Cup victory over Samoa.
Kangaroos star Payne Haas, Kotoni Staggs, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Selwyn Cobbo came under fire from some quarters after choosing to stay silent during the national anthem, a decision NRL legend Johnathan Thurston argued was their right to make. However, Krilich was among those calling for players to be stood down from international duty if they refuse to sing the anthem.
'GROW SOME BALLS': Brutal Michael Maguire fallout amid NSW Origin saga
'COPPING IT': Josh Addo-Carr in startling revelation after ugly ban
Taking to his Instagram story in reaction to the comments from Krilich, Rabbitohs star Mitchell took exception to the criticism aimed at some of his Indigenous mates and argued the Australian anthem wasn't inclusive for all. He also shared Thurston's frustrations about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament proposal being rejected in last weekend's landslide referendum.
“One in all in, he says?,” Mitchell wrote about Krilich's comments on his Instagram story. “Well, make a song that includes Indigenous people. Maybe change the date [of Australia Day]? Or, I don’t know even a voice to be heard?”
Mitchell's swipe also included an image of Cobbo standing silent during the anthem which was captioned: “Hard to be heard when you don’t have a voice”. Thurston provided a similar sentiment earlier in the week after suggesting critics of the anthem snub understand the issue from an Indigenous perspective.
“I know that the Indigenous All Stars didn’t sing the anthem and didn’t want the anthem played in those games at the start of the year, and that was a decision that they made as a collective group,” he said. “I’m not exactly sure which players didn’t sing the anthem this time, but that’s their belief and their personal decision."
“Just like the nation voted on the referendum, they are allowed to do their thing as well. While you might not like it, that’s their decision.”
Mal Meninga calls for 'respect' amid anthem furore
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga also backed his players and said whether or not they wanted to sing the national anthem was an individual decision that should be respected. “They’ve grown up with certain values, certainly with their families and those values have got to be respected,” Meninga told Triple M this week.
“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.”
The comments come after Krilich suggested players should not be picked to represent Australia if they were unwilling to sing the national anthem. “If you don’t to want sing the anthem then don’t play for the Kangaroos. It embarrasses me when they stand there staring like stunned mullets during the national anthem.
“It’s about showing respect for the national anthem of our country. It’s one-in, all-in so if you don’t want to sing the song then you’re out. Mal (Meninga) should get in there and say if you want to represent the great Australian jumper then get out there, open your mouths and sing the anthem.”
Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.
