An Aboriginal elder who was left "broken-hearted" after Melbourne Storm cancelled her planned Welcome to Country on Anzac Day will make a return to the NRL despite ongoing conflict with the club's board.
Wurundjeri woman Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin said she will attend Thursday night's Indigenous round to show support for the players, staff, communities despite holding disappointment and lack of resolution.
Aunty Joy condemned the club's association with a standing board member, who has links to conservative lobby group Advance Australia.
"I carry a deep responsibility to community and will not compromise my integrity as a proud Aboriginal woman and community Elder," she said in a statement.
Board director Brett Ralph, via his company JMR Management Consultancy Services, reportedly donated $225,000 to Advance Australia, a group that campaigned for the no vote in the 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum.
Aunty Joy said she "cannot support an organisation that has associations with any group that incites racial vilification and division".
It comes months after Aunty Joy was scheduled to perform the Welcome to Country at AAMI Park, but was told she was no longer needed.
"We would dearly love to be out there, but they've broken our hearts," she said at the time.
The cancellation came after several people interrupted the Welcome to Country at a Melbourne dawn service.
Although the club later apologised and asked her to proceed, she and two First Nations groups chose to cancel their performances amid the confusion.
Aunty Joy on Thursday expressed disappointment that no resolution was able to be reached with the club.
However, she encouraged everyone to continue to go games and to support the players.
"This is about the board not the game. This is about setting a standard not just for Melbourne Storm but across all sporting codes," Aunty Joy said.
"While I will not do this officially tonight, I will be there to offer strength, healing and cultural safety, I do this with honour for our people, respect for what we have been given, and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, healing with purpose."
Melbourne Storm issued a statement on Monday, confirming there had been "ongoing communication" with members of the Wurundjeri community following the events on Anzac Day.
The club apologised to the individuals, groups, and communities involved.
"As we continue to engage with the local community regarding connection to the club and cultural protocols and out of respect for those involved, the club will recognise the Traditional Owners of the land through an acknowledgement of country on Thursday night for Indigenous Round," the statement read.
