Rugby codes drop the ball in the fight against racism

Take a bow the NRL and the Wallabies.

The NRL showed the backbone of a jellyfish when they backflipped (irony intended) on their decision to can the national anthem before State of Origin.

And even more ironically, the Wallabies decided they couldn't be arsed taking the knee while wearing an Indigenous jersey. You couldn't make this stuff up.

It makes you wonder whether they would've spoken out against homophobic language if it wasn't for David Pocock.

It's a question that's even more poignant given former Wallaby Dan Palmer came out on Friday. (Congratulations by the way Dan, hope you're well.)

The cowardice of the Wallabies' decision to not take the knee - they had a vote ahead of their Bledisloe Cup clash against the All Blacks in Sydney on Saturday - really hit home when I was up watching Liverpool in the English Premier League the other day.

Every single player in every single team takes a knee before every single game.

It's been happening for months and is a constant reminder that racism is wrong. Seems like a good thing to do when you put it that way, doesn't it.

Yet the Wallabies can't be bothered to do it once. Before a game when they're meant to be representing Australia's wonderful Indigenous culture.

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For those that have been living under a rock, taking the knee - or kneeling - has become a symbol in the fight against racism.

First brought to acclaim by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Then to popularity after a USA police officer murdered George Floyd in May.

Maybe that's where former Wallabies captain Nick Farr-Jones has been, living under the aforementioned rock, given his comments on radio last week.

Apparently it would be "divisive" and make racists turn off the TV.

He went on to claim racism wasn't a "major issue" in Australia. Which begs the question, why would it be divisive?

Why would people who weren't racist have a problem with a statement against racism? Wouldn't you simply be preaching to the choir?

Speaking of preaching, Australia's most high-profile Christian, ScoMo, was furious about the NRL's decision to not sing the national anthem before Origin I at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday.

So mad, he picked up the phone to let NRL boss Peter V'Landys know.

Next minute, the NRL backflipping begun and hallelujah the anthem was back on the schedule.

But it's also put the spotlight back on the Indigenous players lining up for NSW and Queensland.

Everyone will be squinting to see whose lips are moving. And God help the ones who aren't.

Is Cody Walker singing? What about Josh Addo-Carr? Or Dally M Medallist Jack Wighton?

The fact that thousands of white Australians have not sung the anthem before thousands of games is completely irrelevant.

Who cares if the national anthem is sung anyways? It's not like the Australian team is playing, in which case you can make a good argument it should be played.

But this is Queensland against NSW. It's meant to be state versus state and mate versus mate.

By all rights the anthems of the Blues (La Cucaracha?) and the Maroons (Cane Toad Blues?) should be sung. They're the ones playing after all.

But no, ScoMo had to come in and be the big man.

Well here's a question for the PM: what would Jesus do?

I reckon he'd take the knee. I reckon he'd refuse to sing the national anthem.

You know why? Because he always stood up for the little person. He always showed compassion. And he certainly didn't bow to popular opinion.

Reckon there's a few leaves to be taken out of his book, the Bible. Especially for the NRL and the Wallabies.