Queensland centre Will Chambers has joined Blues pairing Cody Walker and Josh Addo-Carr in voicing his feelings in regards to the national anthem.
Earlier this week, both Walker and Addo-Carr publicly stated they wouldn't sing the anthem during Origin I on Wednesday night, and Chambers told The Courier-Mail he agrees the anthem doesn't represent Indigenous Australians.
โIt doesnโt represent us,โ Chambers said.
โItโs our personal choice and I wonโt be singing.
โItโs part and parcel of whatโs going on in the world at the moment, particularly inside Australia.
โI think itโs only fair for our Indigenous boys and people in general to embrace what is fair.
โIf the guys (Indigenous Origin players) donโt want to sing it, so be it.โ
Chambers wants to change the anthem altogether, and believes stances like the one the Origin stars are taking could help make change in the future.
โIf enough of us stand by and not sing, maybe one day there will be change and thatโs all we can hope for,โ he said.
โIf we all understood what had gone and what has happened in the past with Australian history, well then maybe it is time for change, but if itโs not changed, well Iโm not going to acknowledge it.
โIt has to start a bit higher up than the NRL, we are the NRL, itโs the national anthem in general.
โSchools sing national anthems, it has to be politicians who have to make the change.
โThat would be nice if they donโt play it but then it causes an uproar ... just change the anthem and everyone is happy.โ
Getting annoyed with this crap. Origin is a few nights away and every second story is about the anthem. Everyone has their own beliefs etc and I accept that, however these players say they donโt want to make a fuss etc but giving interviews about how they refuse to sing the anthem. Hello!!! Donโt make a fuss, just donโt sing it on Wednesday night, thereโs no need to stir up this topic.
I don’t post often anymore but can we please keep politics out of the game. Sing or not, knock yourself out. Don’t shove your opinions down the throats of people that don’t want to know about them. I don’t hate on them for standing up for what they believe in, but this isn’t the time or place for it.
These guys should boycott themselves from the game.