Jimmy Barnes ProfileJust two days after NRL boss Peter V’landys teased that this Sunday’s (4 October) Grand Final would feature secret pre-game entertainment, the rumour mill has fired up.
The Australian’s Andrew Webster and CODE Sports journalist Pete Badel report that Australian music superstars such as Jimmy Barnes, Kate Ceberano, Noiseworks’ Jon Stevens and Jessica Mauboy offered to replace Tones And I as pre-game performers.
The rock and pop icons reportedly offered to perform at the NRL Grand Final after news that Tones And I was being considered to headline the pre-game entertainment slot but had prior commitments touring with Macklemore.
At the time of publication, it’s unknown whether the NRL has accepted the four-piece’s offer to perform.
Fox Sports also notes that the performance is expected to be an emotional tribute for retired South Sydney star Jai Arrow. The 30-year-old was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in May. “I wanted to do this to let people know I am OK and I am ready to fight,” Arrow said upon announcing his diagnosis.
The Australian reports that the NRL Grand Final will feature a live performance of the Liverpool F.C. anthem, You’ll Never Walk Alone – also known by Gerry and the Pacemakers’ version – in tribute to Arrow.
On Monday, V’landys teased a mystery act to perform for eleven minutes at Sydney’s Accor Stadium ahead of the Grand Final match.
“I’ve got to tell you – it’ll be the highest-rating 11 minutes you will ever see, because no one knows what it is, and we won’t tell until the night,” V’landys told journalists, via 7 News.
He added, “And a lot of people will be surprised. There will be something, but I am not saying what it is. Stay tuned.”
Those comments followed remarks he made last week, in which he said there’d be no pre-game entertainment performance and that fans had plenty of entertainment in NRL.
“I have been inundated with emails from young Australian performers that want to perform at the Grand Final,” V’landys explained. “We have even had an international star that has said if we donate money to his charity that he would possibly do it.
“We have plenty of entertainment. Our entertainment is our game. We have a festival of rugby league all day.”
