Outrage As Johnathan Thurston's 'Welcome To Country' Speech Is Cut Short By National Anthem

Fans have voiced their frustrations after Johnathan Thurston's 'Welcome to Country' was cut off prematurely by the Australian national anthem.

Appearing just moments before kick-off in the 2021 NRL Grand Final, rugby league legend Thurston took to the mic to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land.

But before he could wrap up his speech, the former North Queensland Cowboys halfback was abruptly cut off by the speakers within Suncorp Stadium as the instrumental to 'Advance Australia Fair' started ringing around the arena.

Even Kate Miller-Heidke, who was tasked with singing the national anthem, looked like she was caught off guard.

As the awkward sequence of events unfolded, NRL fans flocked to social media to have their say on the matter.

While some slammed organisers for the unprofessional stunt, others were quick to point out that it was actually quite disrespectful to both Thurston and the original owners of the land that he was paying respects to.

Topics: Rugby League, nrl, Australia

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry