Fans shred national anthem performance ahead of Origin
Australia's national anthem 'Advance Australia Fair' is performed in full, celebrating the nation's unity, natural beauty, and wealth.
7news.com.auRobbie Mortimer’s national anthem performance at the State of Origin opener in May 2026 drew significant online backlash and mixed media commentary, with many critics labeling the rendition as controversial or poorly received. A number of outlets highlighted social-media backlash and described the delivery as flawed or emotionally disconnected, sparking ongoing discussions about anthem performances at major sporting events. There has been some coverage noting the performer’s background and rising profile in Australian country music, though the immediate reaction to the anthem overshadowed other pre-game ceremonies.[1][2][3][5][7][9]
Key points you might want to know
- Incident context: The performance occurred before the State of Origin Game 1 at Accor Stadium in Sydney, attended by 80,000+ spectators, and quickly became a trending topic online.[1]
- Public reaction: Social-media criticism and media commentary were prominent, with some commentators calling the rendition mispronounced or not emotionally aligned with the anthem’sTradition.[5][9][1]
- Aftermath: The backlash prompted discussions about how national anthems are presented at large sporting events and who is selected to perform them; as of the latest coverage, Mortimer had not issued a public apology in the articles cited.[7]
If you’d like, I can:
- Compile a concise timeline of the event and the immediate reactions from the sources above.
- Summarize the main criticisms and provide quotes from the coverage.
- Look for any official responses or statements from Robbie Mortimer or the ARLC (if available) and note any planned changes to future ceremonies.