NRL makes a stunning call on who will perform the national anthem for State of Origin game three
Erin Mortimer, the daughter of NSW Blues legend Steve Mortimer, is poised to sing Advance Australia Fair in front of 80,000-plus supporters.
It will also be the 40th anniversary of her father leading NSW to the state's first-ever Origin series triumph in 1985.
In iconic scenes, the champion halfback kissed the turf at the SCG at fulltime after the Blues finally got the better of Queensland.
Mortimer was then chaired off the field by his jubilant teammates before lifting the interstate trophy.
'I'm very excited, humbled and honoured on a personal note but also the sense of occasion,' Erin Mortimer told News Corp.
Mortimer played nine State of Origin games for NSW in his decorated career (pictured, after winning the 1985 series)
'Given what Dad is going through, I'm grateful and privileged.
'The adrenaline, nerves and anticipation before kick-off will be amazing, so I can only imagine what Dad was feeling 40 years ago before that iconic first series win in '85.'
She added it will be 'bittersweet' that Mortimer - who now lives in a Sydney nursing home - won't be at Accor Stadium on the night.
A vocalist, performer and songwriter, Mortimer won't be rattled by the huge occasion, having sung the anthem at Origin games in 2008 and 2013.
Mortimer played nine State of Origin games for NSW between 1982 and 1985 and also won four premierships with the Bulldogs, including two as captain.
In recent years, he has battled the effects of dementia.
Sadly, his son Andrew revealed Mortimer probably is unaware how well his beloved Bulldogs are performing this NRL season due to his declining health.
'It's a shame because they are absolutely killing it,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
The Lions are 13/2 to score in the first 10 minutes of each half against Australia - and that's just one of many RequestABets
The Britsh & Irish Lions are aiming to wrap up their series against Australia on Saturday morning with a test to spare. Andy Farrell's men were dominant in the first Test as they stormed to a 27-19 win in Brisbane - a scoreline which did not reflect the gulf in class and physicality. The Lions don't expect an easy match, though, and they have not been helped by the withdrawal of Welshman Garry Ringrose. Sky Bet are offering a broad range of RequestABets for the clash, with a handful listed below. For the Lions to score at least one try in each half, you'll find a price of 4/11. For both teams to score at least two tries and for the Lions to win, Sky Bet are giving odds of 5/4. If you fancy Farrell's side to score a try in the first 10 minutes of each half, there's an offering of 13/2. And at 200/1, the most unlikely of all, Sky Bet have listed the outcome of at least six tries for each team. Sky Bet selected RequestABets for Australia vs the British & Irish Lions: Lions to score at least one try in each half - 4/1 Both teams to score at least two tries and for the Lions to win - 5/4 Lions to score a try in the first 10 minutes of each half - 13/2 Both teams to score at least six tries each - 200/1
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
How Joe Root compares to greats after moving second on list of Test run-scorers
Here, the PA news agency looks at how he compares to the greats of the game. One more rung to climb… 🪜 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 25, 2025 – Root climbed from fifth at the start of the Old Trafford Test to second as his score of 150 took him past India great Rahul Dravid, former South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis and ex-Australia captain Ricky Ponting – who hailed Root as 'magnificent' while commentating for Sky Sports. – Sachin Tendulkar's 15,921 runs remains the all-time Test record, with Root now 2,512 behind on 13,409. – Sir Alastair Cook, whose England record of 12,472 Root passed last year, ranks sixth on the list. – The top 10 is completed by Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, West Indies pair Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Sangakkara's long-time team-mate Mahela Jayawardene. – Fifteen men in all have passed 10,000 runs in Test cricket, with Australian trio Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Steve Smith, India's Sunil Gavaskar and Pakistan's Younis Khan, with 10,099, rounding out that group. New Zealand's Kane Williamson, on 9,276, is the nearest active player outside that mark. – Root has 13,409 Test runs at an average of 51.18, in 157 matches and 286 innings. – He made his Test debut in 2012, scoring 73 against India in his first innings. – The first of his England-record 38 centuries came the following year against New Zealand. His 66 half-centuries are also the most for his country. – Root's most prolific year brought him 1,708 Test runs in 2021 at an average of 61 – though his best average for a single year is 97.13 in 2014, helped by unbeaten scores of 200 against Sri Lanka and 154 and 149 against India. – He has more runs against India than any other nation, 3,249 in 34 Tests, with Friday's effort his 12th ton against them. He has over 1,000 runs against every opponent bar Bangladesh and Ireland, against whom he has played just two Tests each, and Zimbabwe (one). – Over 8,000 of Root's runs have been made in his customary number four position, where he averages 52.11. His best average by position is 61.05 at number five while his career-best score of 262 was made at number three, against Pakistan last year. – Earlier in the series against India, he also set a world record with his 211th Test catch, passing Dravid at the top of that list.
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
How Joe Root compares to greats after moving second on list of Test run-scorers
Here, the PA news agency looks at how he compares to the greats of the game. Climbing the ranks One more rung to climb… 🪜 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 25, 2025 – Root climbed from fifth at the start of the Old Trafford Test to second as his score of 150 took him past India great Rahul Dravid, former South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis and ex-Australia captain Ricky Ponting – who hailed Root as 'magnificent' while commentating for Sky Sports. – Sachin Tendulkar's 15,921 runs remains the all-time Test record, with Root now 2,512 behind on 13,409. – Sir Alastair Cook, whose England record of 12,472 Root passed last year, ranks sixth on the list. – The top 10 is completed by Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, West Indies pair Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Sangakkara's long-time team-mate Mahela Jayawardene. – Fifteen men in all have passed 10,000 runs in Test cricket, with Australian trio Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Steve Smith, India's Sunil Gavaskar and Pakistan's Younis Khan, with 10,099, rounding out that group. New Zealand's Kane Williamson, on 9,276, is the nearest active player outside that mark. Root's record Root has been a consistent presence in England's top order (Nick Potts/PA) – Root has 13,409 Test runs at an average of 51.18, in 157 matches and 286 innings. – He made his Test debut in 2012, scoring 73 against India in his first innings. – The first of his England-record 38 centuries came the following year against New Zealand. His 66 half-centuries are also the most for his country. – Root's most prolific year brought him 1,708 Test runs in 2021 at an average of 61 – though his best average for a single year is 97.13 in 2014, helped by unbeaten scores of 200 against Sri Lanka and 154 and 149 against India. – He has more runs against India than any other nation, 3,249 in 34 Tests, with Friday's effort his 12th ton against them. He has over 1,000 runs against every opponent bar Bangladesh and Ireland, against whom he has played just two Tests each, and Zimbabwe (one). – Over 8,000 of Root's runs have been made in his customary number four position, where he averages 52.11. His best average by position is 61.05 at number five while his career-best score of 262 was made at number three, against Pakistan last year. – Earlier in the series against India, he also set a world record with his 211th Test catch, passing Dravid at the top of that list.
