Fans divided over Welcome to Country ahead of State of Origin opener
The Welcome to Country ceremony has been thrust back into the spotlight with fans left divided ahead of the State of Origin opener.
NRL
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The Welcome to Country has been thrust back into the spotlight at the State of Origin opener at Suncorp Stadium.
The ceremony which often leaves fans split, had a similar affect on Wednesday night after it was performed by Ashley and Aaron Ruska.
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In what was a short and sharp ceremony that lasted no more than one minute, those in attendance and the majority of those at home all praised the duo for their display.
Watch the Welcome to Country ceremony in the video player above
Journalist Peter FitzSimons wrote: “Great Welcome to Country, and warm acclaim by the crowd.”
Another fan on X added: “Excellent Welcome to Country. F*** the bigots.”
A third wrote: “Good Welcome to country, QLD even does that better.”
A fourth posted: “That’s how you do Welcome to Country. Short and to the point.”
Another chimed in with: “I reckon that’s the best welcome to country I’ve ever seen. Enjoy the game. Go the Blues.”
Of course not everyone who tuned into the Origin opener was happy with what they were seeing unfold on their screens.
One wrote on X: “People who at the #StateOfOrigin don't go for virtue signalling social justice nonsense. They come to watch the State of Origin. They don’t want a history lesson but to enjoy the game. #Australia didn’t vote for more #WelcomeToCountry.”
A second added: “Who else mutes the TV when the welcome to country comes on?”
A third wrote: “I should’ve known there’d be this welcome to country bulls**t when I switched on State of Origin.”
The positive feedback from the majority ahead of the Origin opener comes after Savannah Fynn was praised for her ceremony ahead of last year’s opening clash.
Fynn also didn’t miss a beat in her Welcome to Country, which was also noted by some social media users.
“Welcome to country defeats Anthem by some margin,” was one opinion.
“What a gorgeous welcome to country from that young woman!” wrote another.
Originally published as Fans divided over Welcome to Country ahead of State of Origin opener
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