In joyful strains then let us SING!
by
Tuesday February 03, 2004

On that awesome June day when Suncorp Stadium reopened its gates, many were taken back to some of the good times in Rugby League. This was the last time, that I can remember, when Australia's National Anthem was performed before kick-off in a regular premiership game. (You should've seen the larrikin sitting beside me singing his voice out, what a champ) That really saddens me. As Australians, we should be rejoicing our pride for our nation at every possible opportunity, especially when there is a big gathering of Aussies in the one place.

The question must be asked - why did the NRL scratch the National Anthem out of the program? What was wrong with it? There can only be positives out of it - pride, passion, joy and it can even create an atmosphere that will bring fans back to the games. That and pre-match entertainment such as fireworks and decent music performers.

The last time I have attended a Rugby League match where the National Anthem was performed was State of Origin 3 at Suncorp last year. Of course, people who didn't attend the match will remember it for Julie Anthony's (Australia's most noted singer of Advance Australia Fair) huge mistake, when she didn't start singing anything, yet home-viewers could still hear her voice in the background. However, the boisterous Queenslanders at the Cauldron that night could only hear the other 50,000 voices, singing together as one. The atmosphere truly was amazing, and it made me proud to be an Aussie when I saw the pride within my fellow Aussies in the crowd.

If the NRL brought this tradition back into the game, along with the stunning pre-match entertainment we have seen in the past, many more tickets will be sold, and our game will move closer to being the hottest ticket in Australia. There was a match at ANZ Stadium a while back, where the infamous Batmobile was featured before the game, as well as its well-known driver and the evil Catwoman. That is what you would call awesome. The show was brilliant and the kids LOVED it.

There were many other times at ANZ Stadium when the crowd got to the game early, not to avoid sitting up the back of the Southern Stand, but to see the awesome fireworks display. It was... well, awesome. The sky was just filled with amazing colour and you couldn't talk to the person beside you without screaming in their ear, bursting their eardrum.

These three things - Advance Australia Fair, Pre-Match Entertainment, Fireworks - will make the game more appealing to fans around Australia.

However, if there's one reason I can see that's stopping talented singers perform the National Anthem before the game, it's the team from across the Tasman, the New Zealand Warriors. However, they can't be a reason from stopping Advance Australia Fair in Australia. Give the fans back what they want Mr Gallop.

"In history's page, let every stage, Advance AUSTRALIA Fair."