- Mundine arrested for inaccurate statements
- He thinks he missed the 42-man tour of England
- He says it was racism that kept him from making the team.
Football star turned three-time world boxing champion Anthony Mundine has been called out by football fans and branded a liar after explaining his reasons for leaving the NRL.
In an emotional episode of SAS Australia, Mundine admitted he stopped playing rugby league because he missed out on selection for the Kangaroos.
When asked to tell his story, Mundine spoke about the racism he faced and made inaccurate statements about why he decided to quit the sport and pursue boxing.
“I feel like the system was against me,” he told SAS instructor Ant Middleton.
“I started in 1993. I was 18 years old. I was just a skinny kid. And I was cutting but I felt like I wasn’t getting any rewards. If I was a white man, I would have…’
Anthony Mundine has been called out by football fans over allegations regarding his football career
Mundine says he was not selected in 42-man squad for 1999 England tour
Middleton then interjected: “Oh, you think it’s about race?”
Mundine replied: “100%…I knew from a very young age that I wanted to play for Australia, that was my goal.
“(1999) was probably one of my best years. But at the end of that year, they went on tour to England. I don’t know if it was the World Cup but they were on tour.
“They chose 42 men to go on this tour. I was the best player in the league, without a doubt… The stats showed it. They showed it 100 percent. Person close to me in my position.
Middleton said, “So you obviously got picked for the team?”
Mundine replied: “No. I wasn’t chosen for the team. The Australian coach said I wasn’t selected (because of) my off-field characteristics. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I’ve never done drugs in my life, but I’m very frank.
“They just wanted to show me that they were in power. So they didn’t choose me… They crushed me. Crushed me. Devastated me. Basically, it ripped my heart out.
“I was playing from a very young age, I started football when I was four.
“You ask any of my peers who played in 1999 if I should have been selected (for the national team), and 100% of them will say ‘yes’.
Fans pointed out that there was no England tour in 1999 – and there was no 42-man squad either.
Mundine claims he wasn’t chosen for the team because he was outspoken and indigenous
“To be chosen (in a kangaroo team), Aboriginal boys have to be 10 times better than the others.”
Fans watching the show at home were quick to find flaws in Mundine’s version of events.
Mundine was wrong about there being a tour of England in 1999 and he was wrong about a 42-man squad.
Fans were quick to add that ‘The Man’ was competing against some of the best players the NRL has ever seen, including Andrew Johns and Darren Lockyer.
One X user wrote: “Anthony Mundine IMO was unlucky not to play for Australia BUT can someone PLEASE tell him… there is never had a Kangaroo tour in 1999 and there has NEVER been a 42 man team. I’ve heard this so many times.
“The only person who thought Anthony Mundine was the best player in the league at the time was Anthony Mundine,” replied another.
“Imagine having all the success he had with boxing and still being cut to the bone by what he thought he missed out on in RL,” said a third.
“Despite his talent, he was not the best in his position and even less in the match. In my humble opinion, of course,” said a third.
Another user added: “His selfishness in the 1999 Grand Final cost St George. This is what the selectors remember. Oh, two guys called Fittler and Johns. I heard they were pretty handy.