Players take part in Advance Australia Fair anthem protest

BRISBANE: Players from both teams took part in a much-discussed boycott of Australia’s national anthem before last night’s State of Origin opener.
Indigenous players Cody Walker, Josh Addo-Carr and Will Chambers had all spoken in the build-up to the match at Suncorp Stadium that they would not be singing Advance Australia Fair. Of the 34 players to take the field for Queensland and NSW, 11 players appeared not to sing.
Walker and Addo-Carr were joined in silence by NSW teammates Payne Haas and Latrell Mitchell while for Queensland Chambers, Josh Papalii, Dane Gagai, Dylan Napa, Kalyn Ponga and debutants Joe Ofahengaue and David Fifita appeared not to be singing. A number of those players are of New Zealand or Pacific Island heritage. – AAP