Scott Morrison phone call prompts NRL backflip on national anthem at State of Origin

A phone call from Scott Morrison is believed to have sparked an embarrassing reversal on canning the national anthem.

NSW players Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr and Cody Walker expressed their opposition to the anthem being played in 2019. Picture: AAP

A phone call from Prime Minister Scott Morrison is believed to have jolted the NRL into an embarrassing backflip on playing the national anthem before the looming State of Origin series.

In a dramatic few hours on Thursday, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo revealed that the anthem would not be played before the NSW-Queensland matches on November 4, 11 and 18.

The decision to scrap the anthem would have made this season’s series the first not to feature Advance Australia Fair in its 40-year history.

It followed criticism and protests by Indigenous players including Cody Walker, Blake Ferguson, Latrell Mitchell Josh Addo-Carr, who refused to sing it in 2019.

But The Daily Telegraph reports Mr Morrison contacted rugby league chairman Peter V’landys on Thursday about the move.

“It is believed Morrison told V’landys that after a year of heartbreak it has never been more important to be singing the national anthem,” The Daily Telegraph reports.

Scott Morrison with Australian rugby league coach Mal Meninga. Picture: AAP

Earlier, Mr Abdo said: “Playing the national anthem will be reserved for Test matches, grand final and ANZAC Day.”

“State of Origin is about the tribalism of the two states, it’s Australia’s biggest sporting rivalry. When NSW and Queensland run out we want that tension to erupt immediately.

“The game remains committed to our anthem. You need to look no further than last weekend’s grand final.”

Mr Morrison is an avid rugby league supporter, and is often spotted in the crowd at Cronulla Sharks games.

Player protest

Addo-Carr in 2019 vowed to remain silent during the pre-game anthem.

“The anthem doesn’t represent us as Indigenous people ... We have to change it,” he said at the time.

“We are Australians too. Indigenous people were the first people here, on the land,” he said.

“I am a proud Australian man but a proud Indigenous man, too. If it’s not going to stand for my people, why should I sing it?”

He said the anthem should be changed to recognise Indigenous people.

“How hard can it be? ... Why can’t we recognise the Indigenous people of Australia?”

Fellow Blues player Cody Walker also said he would hold a silent protest.

“I’m not pushing my views on anyone, it’s just how me and my family have grown up and how I feel. I’ve already voiced my opinion, and I want to reiterate it’s just my opinion,” Walker said.