Melbourne Storm issue statement over Welcome to Country decision
The decision created chaos ahead of the game at AAMI Park, and left an Aboriginal elder 'broken-hearted'.
The Storm held its annual Anzac Day commemorations before the clash with South Sydney, kicking off at 8.10pm AEST.
But a few hours earlier, the Storm contacted Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin and informed her she was no longer required to address the crowd.
However, Murphy said the Storm then reversed its position, apologised, and asked her to continue with the ceremony as originally planned.
The ABC has reported that Storm chief executive Justin Rodski then stepped in and told Wandin that the Welcome to Country was off.
Two First Nations groups were also scheduled to perform but, after the confusion, they all decided to cancel their performances.
The Storm later released a statement blaming a 'miscommunication' for the cancellation.
'There was a miscommunication of expectations regarding the use (of) Welcome to Country at Melbourne Storm events throughout the year,' the club said.
'We acknowledge and accept the timing and miscommunication was not ideal and we have spoken to the groups concerned this afternoon.'
In December last year, the Storm were forced to respond to reports that they had plans to scrap Welcome to Country ceremonies.
'Melbourne Storm is not 'ditching' its Welcome to Country or acknowledgments as suggested by recent media. We will continue these acknowledgments at culturally significant celebrations,' the club said on December 15 last year.
'The strength and success of our club is built on many cultures and communities, and our engagement with them has helped us to reflect the differing views on how we best support and represent each group.
'We will continue to talk to these communities and seek their input to find the most appropriate and respectful way to acknowledge and celebrate culture, including how we best acknowledge First Nations people.
'The club will continue to support First Nations community groups and organisations, as it has done for many years, delivering programs and initiatives that promote positive health, welfare and education outcomes.'
The cancellation came after several people interrupted the Welcome to Country at the Melbourne Dawn Service.
Jacob Hersant, a self-declared neo-Nazi and the first person in Victoria to be convicted of performing the Nazi salute, was seen being led away from the Shrine by police after the protest.
Murphy has performed the Welcome to Country at Melbourne events for years.
'We were all just dumbfounded,' Murphy, who was planning to wear her father's medals during the Welcome to Country, said.
'We would dearly love to be out there, but they've broken our hearts.
'We want to rebuild our relationship. We want to make them (realise) that this was wrong, hurtful, deceitful and tokenistic.'
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