NRL: Anthony Mundine calls for anthem boycott

Anthony Mundine in action in the boxing ring in 2011. Photo / Dean Purcell

Anthony Mundine has called on all players at this weekend's NRL and AFL grand finals to boycott the Australian national anthem.

The former rugby league star turned boxer shared a video via social media urging people to make a stand at ANZ Stadium and the MCG in support of the indigenous community.

The campaign, driven by Australian pop culture website Junkee, follows the lead of San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players who have knelt during the US anthem to protest against racial inequality and injustice.

"Been saying this for years !" Mundine posted on Facebook on Thursday.

"The anthem was written in late 1700s where blackfullas (sic) were considered fauna (animals) advance Australia fair as in white not fair as in fair go ...

"All players aboriginal & non aboriginal should boycott the anthem & start changing Australia's ignorant mentality...lets move forward together yo."

Last week, former league players Larry Corowa and Joe Williams also called on indigenous players in Sunday's NRL decider to not stand for the anthem.

"Imagine if a couple of guys did it on grand final day - what a powerful message it would send to white Australia," Williams told Rugby League Week.

"It would bring all the racism that's in the closet to the surface - the racism we have to put up with every day. The way we are treated in shops, the way people look at us on the street and the way the government treats us.

"It's time it stopped. And our footballers are role models and the ideal ones to bring about change."

- AAP