LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
League legend Mark 'Spudd' Carroll has entered the fray in the age-old debate surrounding the singing of the national anthem before Rugby League matches.
In a classic display of Aussie sportsmanship, Carroll expressed his disappointment at Kangaroos players choosing not to sing the anthem before the recent Pacific Championship Test against New Zealand.
"As a kid, I dreamt about playing for Australia," Carroll revealed in a radio interview this week.
"Just to hear that anthem, I was a (big) singer...
I watch the anthem now, it disappoints me if the blokes don't sing it."
While Carroll is entitled to his opinion, it's time to bin the argument that singing the anthem determines a player's passion for their country.
Just as Rugby League players come in all shapes and sizes, they also have different ways of showing their love for their country.
Some may prefer to let their actions on the field do the talking, while others wear their heart on their sleeve and belt out the anthem with gusto.
At the end of the day, players should be respected for their individual choices, and their commitment to representing their country should not be called into question based on their singing abilities.
Let's leave the national anthem debate on the sidelines and focus on what truly matters - the game itself.