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'Be proud but understand what you're being proud of' - NRL star criticises Indigenous version of Advance Australia Fair
By Online Editors
Indigenous NRL star Latrell Mitchell has hit out after history was made at Saturday night's Wallabies Test when the national anthem was sung in two languages for the first time in Australian sport.
Before the Aussies' Rugby Championship clash against Argentina, which ended in a 16-all draw, a spine-tingling rendition of Advance Australia Fair was performed both in English and in the Eora language.
Olivia Fox, a young singer from the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, belted out the stirring rendition of the anthem as many rugby fans praised the unique acknowledgement of Australia's Indigenous people.
However, Mitchell wasn't among them.
"When will people understand that changing it to language doesn't change the meaning!" he posted on Instagram with a face-palm emoji.
"Be proud but understand what you're being proud of.
"I stand for us, our mob! Be proud of the oldest living culture.
"Always was, always will be."
Mitchell is a proud Indigenous man and appeared in this year's NRL marketing campaign with the Aboriginal flag draped across his back.
During last year's State of Origin series, the NSW centre made headlines when he protested against the anthem by refusing to sing, as did Blues teammates Cody Walker, Josh Addo-Carr and Blake Ferguson.
Mitchell didn't play in this year's Origin series but the anthem protests from players continued.
The South Sydney fullback may not have loved the national anthem on Saturday night but plenty of others did.
The Daily Telegraph's Jamie Pandaram posted on Twitter: "Absolutely fantastic: every Wallabies player sung the first half of the national anthem in Indigenous language. Learned the words. Paid respect. A great step forward."
Rugby Australia reporter Christy Doran also called the spectacle "spine-tingling".
"The finest rendition of the Australian national anthem. That was brilliant. Never felt more proud of our anthem. Well done Olivia Fox," he posted on Twitter.
The Wallabies' official Twitter profile called it a "goosebumps" moment while Australian Paralympic legend Richard Coleman wrote: "That is one incredible national anthem @wallabies! As an athlete every time the Australian anthem is performed it should be done this way. I would love to win a gold medal and hear this playing loud and proud, so inspiring."
It was reported this week the Wallabies playing group had been learning the lyrics in Eora to show the team is serious about recognising the role of First Nations people in the sport.
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Latest Comments
Well deserved for a young talented, bright and humble player.
Go to commentsCane shouldn’t have been one last year, based purely on performances. Lakai is as close to a like for like of swap of Savea you’re ever likely to find, based on his short career so far at least. He has many of the same qualities - very strong ball carrier, great at the breakdown, and an absolute work horse on defence. I feel like he and Sititi could lead the way in the loose at the next WC.
I think we have become obsessed with replacing Kaino with someone exactly like him. Kaino was a perfect foil for the other loose forwards we had at the time. Based on the talent we have around at the moment those players could be made up in the aggregate by three players who are all exception all rounders - Lakai, Sititi, and Savea. Missing some height for sure but Sititi’s defensive work in the line out last year was phenomenal. He gets off the ground so quickly and was able to steal a couple of balls off the top of the springbok line out.
If our young locks coming through can actually stay fit long enough to get selected, it seems inevitable that Va’ai could end up in a hybrid 6/lock role.
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