NRL grand final set to have no pre-match entertainment

Next week’s NRL Grand Final is set to go ahead without a headline musical act after the league opted against finding a replacement performer following the collapse of negotiations with Australian singer Tones And I.

The two parties had been in discussions for Tones And I to perform before the decider at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on October 4, but the deal fell through after the singer was unable to commit due to a prior commitment with Macklemore in the United States.

“Tones was recently approached to perform the pre-show at the NRL grand final,” a statement from her management company to ABC Sport said.

“An offer was presented to Tones via management on September 5. Nothing was signed or confirmed in writing.

“Due to the last-minute nature and prior commitments by Tones, we were unable to accept the offer.

“We wish the NRL nothing but the very best for their event.”

Her management has also pushed back on reports that negotiations broke down over the NRL wanting her to perform her global hit Dance Monkey, saying no deal had been signed or confirmed in writing.

The Sydney Morning Herald claims Tones And I, whose real name is Toni Watson, loathes the song. Rather than scramble to find another major artist with less than two weeks until the grand final, Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys has decided the money would be better spent elsewhere.

“Rather than giving a performer $90,000 a minute, we would prefer to give it to grassroots,” he said on Tuesday.

“We believe that the entertainment is our game. It’s more the media that put themselves into a frenzy who we get as performer.

“But when you look at it realistically for 11 minutes, it’s not worth it. People will come to the game with or without it. We believe the money is better spent on junior rugby league.”

V’landys told Nine’s Today show that he has received many emails from young Australian performers who have offered to play.

“We have even had an international star that has said if we donate money to his charity that he would possibly do it,” V’landys said.

“We have plenty of entertainment. Our entertainment is our game. We have a festival of rugby league all day.”

“It’s a bit like buying a cheeseburger for the pickle. You don’t do that. People come to our game for the game.”

Australian singer Shannon Noll has also offered his services to perform on grand final day, making a post on Instagram, while New Zealand-born former INXS singer Jon Stevens has reportedly volunteered.

Stevens has played at numerous grand finals in the past.

Commentator and Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould has suggested Jimmy Barnes, who has performed many times in a solo capacity and with his band, Cold Chisel.

Last year, American singer Teddy Swims performed before the Brisbane Broncos went on to beat the Melbourne Storm, while historic performers at the grand final include Tina Turner, OneRepublic and Billy Idol, although a power issue meant the latter couldn’t actually perform.

The AFL, a rival code to the NRL, will have Kylie Minogue performing at the Melbourne Cricket Ground this weekend before the Fremantle Dockers face the Brisbane Lions.

While the NRL won’t have a headline musical act, there will still be plenty happening at Accor Stadium, with the State Championship grand final, won by the Warriors last year, and the NRLW decider also taking place.

The finalists for all three games will be determined this weekend.