NRL grand final cancels pre-game entertainment after Tones and I negotiations collapse

Consensus Summary

The NRL grand final will take place without pre-game entertainment for the first time in years after negotiations with Australian artist Tones and I collapsed over her refusal to perform *Dance Monkey*, a song she has publicly stated she dislikes. The league has instead decided to donate $1 million to junior rugby league programs, marking a significant shift in how it allocates funds. This decision comes as the NRL leverages its record seven-year broadcast windfall to prioritize grassroots development over high-profile entertainment, a move championed by Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys. The grand final is set for this Saturday at the MCG (SMH) or Sunday week (SMH), with the Fremantle Dockers and Brisbane Lions confirmed as the competing teams (SMH).

The breakdown in talks with Tones and I highlights a long-standing tension between the NRL’s desire to maintain tradition and its growing focus on financial discipline. The league has historically relied on pre-game acts—such as Tina Turner’s iconic 1993 performance or last year’s appearance by American artist Teddy Swims—to draw casual viewers, but V’landys has argued that the game itself is the primary attraction. The $1 million earmarked for entertainment would instead support 2,000 to 3,000 underprivileged children in playing rugby league, aligning with the NRL’s broader goal of expanding participation. V’landys has even gone as far as replacing pot plants with footballs at NRL headquarters to cut costs, underscoring his commitment to fiscal responsibility (SMH).

Key figures in the decision include V’landys, who has been interim NRL CEO for the past two months and is set to take over permanently, and Tones and I, whose team reportedly rejected the NRL’s insistence on performing *Dance Monkey*. The song, released in 2019, remains one of the most streamed tracks in history, with over 3.5 billion plays on Spotify and chart-topping success in more than 30 countries. Despite its commercial dominance, Tones and I has expressed discomfort with the song, a stance that ultimately derailed the negotiations. Both the SMH and ABC report that V’landys views the funding reallocation as a more meaningful investment in the sport’s future, stating that ‘people come to watch rugby league—not a pop concert’ (ABC).

While both sources agree on the core details—such as the cancellation of pre-game entertainment and the financial reallocation—they diverge on specific logistics. The SMH specifies the grand final will be held this Saturday at the MCG and Sunday week at Accor Stadium, with the Fremantle Dockers and Brisbane Lions as the finalists, while the ABC focuses on the broader timeline of preliminary matches leading up to the grand final on Sun, 4 Oct, 7:30 pm. The ABC also highlights the NRL’s hosting rights process, noting that state governments bid for the privilege, though it does not clarify whether the venue shift to Accor Stadium was part of this negotiation. Additionally, the SMH provides more historical context, mentioning past acts like Billy Idol and Good Charlotte, while the ABC emphasizes the grassroots funding angle with quotes from NSWRL chief executive David Trodden.

The NRL’s decision has sparked debate about the role of entertainment in sports events, with some questioning whether the absence of a headline act will diminish the grand final’s appeal. However, V’landys remains confident that the game’s quality will draw audiences regardless. The league has also signaled that the unspent funds will be distributed to state leagues for junior programs, though the exact allocation process is still under discussion. As the grand final approaches, the focus remains on whether this bold financial shift will resonate with fans or further alienate those who view pre-game entertainment as an essential part of the experience.