NRL officials were 100 percent correct to initially omit the national anthem from State of Origin games (Origin of a back flip, 30/10). They were right, but for the wrong reasons. The anthem should only be heard at events of national or international significance. Military and state funerals, remembrance days and sporting occasions against other nations are appropriate. Permission should be sought to use it, so valuable should it be to our national psyche. It should not be allowed to be a political football for activists to show disrespect before polemic sporting games. We must treat it as one of our truly national assets, withheld from frivolous overuse and devalued by those undermining our national identity and unity. Aggressive, divisive and competing sporting teams pitting Australians against each other is surely the exact opposite to the call for unison echoing through the chords and lyrics of our anthem. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta 31Oct2020.