Melbourne Storm have issued a formal apology to First Nations communities over the last-minute cancellation of the NRL club’s Welcome to Country ceremony on Anzac Day this year.

The Storm said it had been in ongoing communication with members of the Wurundjeri community since April 25, when the service that had been slated to take place before the match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs was pulled, causing distress among Indigenous communities.

In the days that followed, the Storm took responsibility for what they said was an internal miscommunication.

Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy had been scheduled to perform the service. Performances from First Nations groups were also planned.

The Storm said on Monday they would have an Acknowledgement of Country before Thursday night’s clash against the Brisbane Broncos, part of the NRL’s Indigenous Round.

“Melbourne Storm has been in ongoing communication with members of the Wurundjeri community following the events on ANZAC Day and has apologised to the individuals, groups, and communities involved. The club extends that apology to First Nations and Māori and Pasifika communities impacted,” the Storm said in a statement.

“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 cancellation of the service at AAMI Park followed an incident at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance that morning, when far-right agitators had booed and heckled Bunurong elder Uncle Mark Brown’s Welcome to Country at the Anzac Day dawn service.