Football fans have been left fuming after the Melbourne Storm offered up a watered-down Acknowledgement to Country to kick off the NRL Indigenous Round on Thursday night.
The round began with the Storm delivering an Acknowledgement of Country instead of a Welcome to Country before their 22-2 win over Brisbane.
Unlike Welcomes, Acknowledgements can be performed by a non-Indigenous person.
The move came after the club cancelled the Welcome to Country just hours before its Anzac Day clash with South Sydney.
Elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, who was meant to perform that Welcome, said she and Victoria’s Wurundjeri people will not work with the club for any official or cultural events.
She was furious over a Storm board member’s links to Advance Australia, a political lobby group she claims promotes racial division.
The Storm held an Acknowledgement of Country instead of a Welcome before they played Brisbane in the first match of the NRL Indigenous round on Thursday night, and chose to play it on the big screen (pictured) instead of holding a live ceremony at the ground
Fans lashed out at the club over the decision, which came after an Indigenous elder slammed the club in a fiery statement on Thursday (pictured, Storm and Broncos players)
The fresh wave of criticism comes after the Storm scrapped Welcome to Country at the last minute before their ANZAC Day clash this year
The club apologised earlier this week for the Anzac Day cancellation but confirmed only an Acknowledgement would be held before Thursday’s game.
Some viewers thought the Acknowledgement of Country was the same as a Welcome to Country and were left fuming.
‘So the storm have gone back on their no more welcome to country promise, will have to ask for a refund on my membership,’ one posted on social media.
‘I deliberately changed channel’s so didn’t have to acknowledge anything,’ commented another.
Others saw the ceremony as a weaker version of the Welcome to Country.
‘Storm had the opportunity to make up for the cancellation of the welcome to country from Anzac round, they decided to do this? P*** f***ing poor,’ one posted to X.
Some were more extreme in their views following the ANZAC Day decision.
‘Melbourne Storm can f*** right off with their indigenous round welcome to country,’ one fumed.
Elder Aunty Joy Murphy has vowed to never work with the Melbourne Storm again over the Welcome to Country controversy
Melbourne Storm players, wearing their Indigenous Round jersey, shut out the controversy to beat the Brisbane Broncos 22-2.
‘Not only did owners back no vote, they cancelled welcome to country ANZAC day, they also have zero indigenous players on their roster.’
The fact that the Storm chose to broadcast the Acknowledgement of Country on the big screen, rather than feature a live ceremony, also created division.
‘It was as it should be, Indigenous Round just recognising past and present Indigenous players, none of the WTC dribble acted out by an auntie or uncle. Great work melbourne storm, you got it right as usual,’ one footy fan commented.
‘Great Acknowledgement. But would have preferred a Welcome on ground,’ another viewer said.
‘Easy to ignore if it’s just on a screen,’ added another, tongue firmly in cheek.
‘I deliberately changed channel’s so didn’t have to acknowledge anything,’ another fan posted.
‘I don’t care how it’s done. I won’t acknowledge it,’ added yet another.
The furious statement from Aunty Joy would have been the last thing NRL CEO Andrew Abdo was hoping for when he launched Indigenous Round on Tuesday.
Aunty Joy’s broadside at the club came after it was revealed Storm board member Brett Ralph had donated $175,000 to Advance Australia through his JMR Management Consultancy Services company.
Advance Australia campaigned against the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, supports Aboriginal politicians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Warren Mundine, and stands against what it calls ‘out-of-control’ immigration policies.
‘I carry a deep responsibility to community and will not compromise my integrity as a proud Aboriginal woman and community Elder,’ Aunty Joy said.
‘We cannot support an organisation that has associations with any group that incites racial vilification and division.
‘We are willing to continue to work with Melbourne Storm to address the deep community concerns but cannot endorse any official functions or cultural work until measures are put in place to ensure cultural respect and safety for all.’
