'Absolute sign of disrespect: Outrage as Sydney fans BOO during the minute's silence for Remembrance Day at State of Origin
Sydney fans have sparked outrage after booing during the minute's silence for Remembrance Day at State of Origin.
Rugby league fans came out in force as New South Wales and Queensland prepared to battle it out at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night.
But for some, excitement turned to disgust when it came time to commemorate the lives lost in the First World War- a ritual held annually on November 11 - which just happens to align with this series' second game.
The memorial began prior to the kick-off, with General Sir Peter Cosgrove reading Ode of Remembrance before The Last Post was played by Corporal John Byrne.
Halfway through, the tribute to servicemen and servicewomen was tainted by the jeers of some spectators in the grandstand.
Sydney fans have sparked outraged after booing during the Remembrance Day minute of silence at State of Origin Game 2
Halfway through the Ode of Remembrance, the tribute to servicemen and servicewomen was tainted by the jeers of some spectators in the grandstand
Viewers at home flocked to Twitter to slam those responsible for their disrespectful behaviour.
'Wow. That was absolute disrespect. Is it that hard to pay your respects in silence? Blood boiling,' one woman wrote.
Another added: 'Do people seriously not know how to stay silent for a couple of minutes?'
'Do these animals not understand what a 'minute silence' is? F**k sake' a third post read.
Along with the boos, other fans broke out into an early applause during The Last Post, unaware the song had not finished.
The national anthem also drew division, with some players refusing to sing in protest, including Queensland centre Dane Gagai and NSW stars Cody Walker, Josh Addo-Carr, Jack Wighton and Payne Haas.
Queensland drew first blood with a freakish try to 19-year-old winger Xavier Coates.
But it was all Blues from that point onward with first-half tries to Cody Walker, James Tedesco and Josh Addo-Carr.
Meanwhile, the Maroons desperately missed Cameron Munster, who was replaced by Ben Hunt at five-eighth after a nasty head-knock.
They started the game well when Daly Cherry-Evans helped an acrobatic Coates cross with a bullet cut-out pass.
But they lacked spark and struggled for field possession after the first 15 minutes, with Josh Papalii scoring their only other try - again from a Cherry-Evans pass.
NSW finished the game as 34-10 winners, and will fly to Brisbane for the deciding game in the series next week.
Spectators at home slammed the fans who booed for showing an 'absolute lack of respect' (Blues team pictured during anthem)
Blues fans watch the match from the stands during game two of the 2020 State of Origin series
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was earlier in the day in no mood for the traditional interstate friendly rivalry about the event.
She said she wouldn't be texting Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk about it and remains frustrated by her refusal to open the border to Sydneysiders, arguing both states' economies were suffering.
'I think I've made my case clear. And she's made her position clear. And I don't think she's going to budge,' she told the ABC.
'It's a lot at stake. I think that the goalposts that Queensland has set for opening the borders to NSW is unrealistic, and I just wish that they would act in a more compassionate and common-sense way.'
There was 'absolutely no health advice which says that NSW poses a danger to anybody'.