Robbie Mortimer Draws Backlash at State Of Origin 2 Anthem

Robbie Mortimer sang Advance Australia Fair before state of origin 2 at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night, and the reaction was immediate. More than 80,000 Origin fans were in the ground when the Australian country artist took the anthem slot.

Mortimer at Accor Stadium

Mortimer was given the honour of opening the series-opener with the national anthem, but the performance quickly became the story. Social media filled with criticism as fans watching at home tore into the rendition.

One critic wrote, "One of the WORST national anthems I’ve ever heard, butchered." Another said, "The national anthem was just murdered live on national television to start the State of Origin."

Fan reaction online

The backlash was not limited to one comment. Lachlan McKirdy wrote, "Didn’t realise the national anthem was called Edvence Estrelia Feair," while another person called it "a national anthem which sounded like a sick chainsaw slicing a bagpipe in half".

Other posts were even more blunt. One critic said, "Over heard some shocking renditions of the Australian national anthem over the years, but that one takes the cake. That was horrendous. Whoever hired him is tone deaf," and another added, "Possibly the worst signing of the national anthem I have ever heard."

Queensland's early surge

The anthem came before a State of Origin opener that Queensland started like a house on fire in the first half. That backdrop put Mortimer's performance in front of one of the biggest live sporting crowds of the year, with more than 80,000 Origin fans inside Accor Stadium.

For Mortimer, the night was supposed to be a pre-game honour. Instead, the immediate takeaway from Wednesday night was the reaction online, where fans were flooded with similar complaints and another called the performance "That national anthem was butchered like nothing I’ve ever heard before."