Tones and I ProfileIf you've been watching the recent developments regarding the NRL Grand Final and wondering which act – local or otherwise – might make an appearance on the day, the league's chairman has officially ruled out a replacement.
The news comes just a day after reports emerged that negotiations with Tones And I had apparently fallen through, leaving the October 4th event without a pre-match entertainment headliner.
Sources claimed that the reason for the negotiations breaking down was due to the NRL's insistence that Tones play her 2019 chart-topper Dance Monkey, though her team confirmed that prior commitments to touring with Macklemore in the US left her unable to accept the offer when it was put to her on September 5th.
"[Tones] explored all avenues to make it work," a statement from her management read. "Nothing was signed or confirmed in writing."
"We wish the NRL nothing but the very best for their event."
Since then, a number of artists have thrown their hands up to perform, including Shannon Noll, who said he was "ready and willing" to perform – having previously done so back in 2007.
However, The Herald Sun reports that while speaking to Today, Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys has confirmed there will be no replacement act booked, though it won't affect the impact of the day.
"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.
“It’s a bit like buying a cheeseburger for the pickle," he offered. "You don’t do that. People come to our game for the game.”
In the wake of the news surrounding Tones And I's absence from the Grand Final entertainment schedule, V’landys has reportedly decided to commit $1 million to junior rugby league instead of paying for just "11 minutes of entertainment".
The news also comes just days prior to the AFL Grand Final taking place in Melbourne, where international Kylie Minogue will headline the day's pre-match entertainment. V’landys wasn't impressed by the AFL's achievement, writing it off by simply noting “We’ve got a better game, so we don’t need that sort of stuff.”
For his part, V’landys remains positive that fans of the NRL will still be having a great time on the day, despite the absence of a headline act.
“The halftime entertainment’s going to be out of this world,” he claimed. “There’s going to be lots of entertainment, but it just won’t be a performer costing a million dollars.”
The 2026 NRL Grand Final will take place on October 4th, with its plans for entertainment on the day to be announced.
