State of Origin: National anthem stance saps energy from NSW Blues

Indigenous NSW five-eighth Cody Walker should end his silent national anthem protest for the good of the Blues and to advance the debate on the sensitive issue.

LtoR; Blues players Josh Morris, Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr, Cody Walker and Damien Cook are seen during the Australian National Anthem prior to Game 1 of the 2019 State of Origin series between the NSW Blues and the Queensland Maroons at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Wednesday, June 5, 2019. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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When Cody Walker used his first press conference in Blues camp to declare he would remain silent during the Australian national anthem, I became worried for him.

With so much to look forward to in becoming an Origin player — entering camp with his new teammates, preparing for rugby league’s toughest contest — this was priority?

Let me clarify, there is a sporting-team issue here and there is an Australian political or cultural issue.

The essence of a team is the willingness of its members to sacrifice their own needs and wants for what the team needs.

When this happens selflessly and unconditionally, the power of a team evolves.

For NSW to beat Queensland at Suncorp Stadium in game one, they were going to have to overcome some enormous challenges.

The “Lang Park” cauldron has been like the Bermuda Triangle for many Blues teams and debutants. So, for Walker to focus on the anthem, he subsequently drew energy from his teammates.

When asked, they then had to publicly back him, agree to respect his stance, or, even worse, silently disagree. All the while drawing collective energy away from the reason the team had come together, to create a bond to win a rugby league battle that was greater than all of them.

Josh Morris, Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr, Cody Walker and Damien Cook during the Australian national anthem prior to Game One of the 2019 State of Origin series. Picture: AAP

The end result of Origin I was Queensland were hun­grier. Their commitment to each other grew stronger the longer the game went.

The Maroons’ collective sacrifices and intent defensively in the second half was testimony to this.

People will argue the anthem issue had minimal or no effect on the NSW team, or that Queensland themselves had players abstaining from singing. But if it had even a one per cent effect on Walker or the team’s preparation, that is enough at Origin level.

As a cultural issue, I’m confident I speak for most Australians when I say I don’t fully understand the circumstances and trauma the Aboriginal people have endured since the British arrived in 1788. But I want to learn more.

The Aboriginal people and their culture date back more than 50,000 years and they are entitled to claim ownership of this land.

This whole debate is much bigger and more important than a football game. It is more important than what anthem we sing as a free and unified people.

Cody Walker struggled to make an inpact for the Blues. Picture: Getty Images

The opinion on the anthem is not uniform among indigenous Australians. Queensland great Justin Hodges this week said he sings the anthem in recognition of our past soldiers.

Indigenous leader Warren Mundine on Wednesday said: “I’m standing for the national anthem at tonight’s State of Origin. I don’t judge a nation by the worst of its history, but by how it overcomes the worst of its history and by its vision for the future. And on that measure, I judge it well.”

The point is that the words of the anthem can be changed — it’s been done before.

The respect we have for each other as Australians, and how we care for each other, is the most important thing.

I watched with interest in the lead-up to the game the story of Walker’s journey and the struggles he overcame to earn NSW selection. It made you respect the man even more.

Now he has a profile and platform from which to speak, he can join many other indigenous Australian sporting stars in helping everyone understand.

Cody Walker has overcome much to win selection for the Blues. Picture: Adam Head

By paying respect to “our” anthem, he gains more respect in return. By not singing, a division is created and the understanding and unity of the country is diminished.

The NRL has been extremely proactive in recent years in becoming more inclusive and understanding of our indigenous culture and heritage. Every NRL club has an indigenous welfare program.

The Indigenous All Stars game and Indigenous Round have become part of our calendar. These, along with many other initiatives put in place, have helped educate and inform the rugby league and broader community.

This not meant to be a criticism of Walker or any Origin player who took a stance this week. I hope Walker is selected in the NSW team for game two.

He deserves another chance, like a lot of his Blues teammates, to make up for Wednesday night. I hope he gives everything of himself to his team and his state.

He also has another team he can help bond together if given another opportunity, the Australian people.

I, for one, want to learn more and listen, but I can’t hear him if he remains silent.

Originally published as State of Origin: National anthem stance saps energy from NSW Blues