Australian rapper Briggs has taken another dig at the Melbourne Storm after the club made the controversial decision to hold homecoming ceremonies again in 2025, according to reports.
The Daily Telegraph claims the NRL team could instead recognize the diversity of its players next season with a nod to their international cultures and origins.
Storm sought to clarify reports on Sunday afternoon that they were “abandoning” the ceremony by issuing a statement insisting the football club would not be canceling the Welcome to Country ceremonies entirely.
“Melbourne Storm is not ‘abandoning’ its Welcome to Country or Thank Yous as recent media has suggested,” the statement read. “We will continue these recognitions in culturally significant celebrations.”
“The strength and success of our Club is based on many cultures and communities, and our commitment to them has helped us reflect the different points of view on how to best support and represent each group.”
This year’s junior premiers added: ‘We will continue to speak to these communities and seek their views to find the most appropriate and respectful way to recognize and celebrate culture, including the best way to recognize First Nations.
Australian rapper Briggs has investigated Melbourne Storm after they made the call to score again at homecoming ceremonies.
Storm has clarified online that they will not be removing Welcome to Country and will honor the ceremony at certain culturally significant events.
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“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 outcomes in health, wellbeing and education.”
It is understood the club will continue to hold homecoming ceremonies during events of cultural significance, including the NRL Indigenous round.
But the news has sparked much discussion online, with Australian rapper Briggs attacking Storm on both Twitter and Facebook.
The 38-year-old rapper first wrote on X: “Look, the cost of living means cultural recognition just isn’t viable in this economy.” Cultural inclusion has a price. Storm could do it if she wanted to; “If anyone knows how to enforce a salary cap, it’s them.”
He would later follow up with another post on Facebook.
“Not surprising and disappointing,” Briggs wrote. ‘What is your identity @Storm? I couldn’t care less about the pageantry, but the thin veil of respect finally disappeared.
‘We revealed that a co-owner donated $175,000 to the NO campaign. What value does a welcome have when these are the people behind the decisions and identity of the club?
Other social media users sided with Briggs’ comments, writing: “Another reason not to renew my Storm membership.”
Briggs took to X and Facebook to post two separate comments on the news.
Brendan Kerin, cultural educator for Sydney’s Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, gave a resounding welcome to country in the AFL which he said was not for white people.
Welcome to Country and Appreciation of Country ceremonies have been a hot topic for city councils across the country.
But in recent times, some have remained divided over the ceremony.
Last week, the Juru people of northern Queensland voted to ban welcome-to-country ceremonies on their land.
“The seniors have had enough,” said Randall Ross, a spokesperson on 4BC Mornings with Bill McDonald.
“It’s being abused and they want to put an end to it.”
Aboriginal elder Uncle Brendan Kerin also attracted renewed attention in September for his comments before the Giants and Lions AFL semi-final in Sydney, in which he claimed the ceremonies were “not intended to cater to white people “.
‘A welcome to country is not a welcome to Australia (but) a welcome to the lands in which they have gathered. It is not a ceremony that we invented to serve white people. It is a ceremony that we have been performing for 250,000 years (more BC). And BC means Before Cook,’ he said.
That has led some to give their verdict on the matter, with former Geelong star Matthew Stokes saying: “Welcoming to the country should be a beautiful and respectful ceremony that unites us all as we reflect on Australia’s extraordinary history , which extends long before white settlement.” .
“On the contrary, it is becoming divisive and, to be honest, I can understand why many people are confused by its purpose, with coverage of the AFL finals broadcasting the ceremonies to millions of football fans.”