Grassroots Funding Over Concert
NRL Grand Final Proceeds Without Entertainment Act to Fund Grassroots Programs
Anonymous
Key Points
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The 2026 decider at Accor Stadium on October 4 would mark the first NRL grand final since the competition’s inception in 1998 without a pre-match entertainment show.
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The NRL grand final has recently featured prominent performers including Teddy Swims last year, The Kid LAROI the year before and Jimmy Barnes in 2022; Billy Idol and Tina Turner have also performed at the event.
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Olivia Dean had been considered for the performance after Peter V’landys raised the possibility, but her Australian tour begins on October 5, the day after the grand final, and she ultimately did not appear in the lineup.
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V’landys framed the cost as roughly $90,000 per minute for an 11-minute performance, saying, “Rather than giving a performer $90,000 a minute, we would prefer to give it to grassroots.”
The 2026 NRL Grand Final will be the first since the league's 1998 start without a major pre-match entertainment act. Negotiations between the NRL and Australian singer Tones and I collapsed in late September over the league's demand that she perform "Dance Monkey" and scheduling conflicts, Perth Now reported. NRL Chairman Peter V'landys said the $1 million earmarked for the show would go to grassroots rugby league and underprivileged children instead.
The decision contrasts sharply with the AFL, which secured Kylie Minogue for its Grand Final. V'landys defended the move by framing the cost as roughly $90,000 per minute for an 11-minute performance. "Rather than giving a performer $90,000 a minute, we would prefer to give it to grassroots," he said. The move has drawn criticism from broadcaster Nine and commentators, who worry the lack of entertainment could hurt television ratings.
A Three-Decade Tradition Ends Abruptly
The NRL Grand Final has featured major entertainment acts since 1998. Recent headliners included Teddy Swims in 2025, The Kid LAROI the year before, and Jimmy Barnes in 2022. The event also hosted Tina Turner and Cold Chisel in past years. This October 4 decider at Accor Stadium will mark a stark break from that tradition.
Olivia Dean had been considered as an alternative performer, but her Australian stadium tour begins on October 5—the day after the grand final. The timing conflict ruled her out. Herald Sun reported that Shannon Noll, a former Australian Idol runner-up, has publicly offered to perform in the pre-game slot, but has not received confirmation from the NRL.
Tones and I Rejects Last-Minute Offer and Setlist Demands
The NRL approached Tones and I in early September with less than a month before the event. The Australian ARIA Award-winning artist's management told Courier Mail that negotiations failed due to "artistic differences"—specifically the NRL's insistence on including "Dance Monkey," her 2019 global hit, in her setlist. Her team declined the requirement.
Tones and I's management also cited a prior commitment to Macklemore's U.S. tour that made the late offer impossible to accept. The artist herself called for wider opportunities for local Australian acts rather than forcing formulaic setlists. Nothing was signed or confirmed in writing, her team emphasized to Rolling Stone, leaving both sides free to move on.
Broadcaster and Media Express Disappointment Over Lost Draw
Nine Network, which holds a $5.3 billion seven-year broadcast deal with the NRL, expressed frustration over the cancelled entertainment. Sources told the Sydney Morning Herald that removing pre-game entertainment risks lowering casual television viewership for Australia's highest-rated annual broadcast.
Commentator Israel Dagg called the move an "absolute disappointment" for ticket-holders expecting a full party atmosphere. The entertainment industry raised concerns that the NRL was squandering an opportunity to showcase Australian music on one of the nation's biggest stages—a contrast the AFL avoided by securing Kylie Minogue.
NRL Redirects $1 Million Toward Grassroots Programs
V'landys framed the decision as a community-first initiative. "People come to our game for the game," he stated. "It's a bit like buying a cheeseburger for the pickle." The $1 million will fund junior rugby league registrations, equipment, and access programs for underprivileged youth across New South Wales.
The NRL also ruled out booking replacement headline acts despite offers from domestic and international performers. Cairns Post reported that the league is standing firm on its decision to prioritize grassroots investment over a concert-style production, establishing a new precedent for the event's future format.
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