Amy Shark joins Australian music stars for Jai Arrow tribute as NRL abandons traditional Grand Final spectacle after Tones and I dropped out of pre-game performance

The line-up of Australian musicians set to perform an emotional NRL Grand Final tribute to South Sydney Rabbitohs star Jai Arrow has been revealed.

Amy Shark will lead the special performance, joined by musicians from Grinspoon, The Screaming Jets, Peking Duk and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers.

They will perform Gerry and the Pacemakers' classic You'll Never Walk Alone in honour of Jai, who has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).

The ballad holds special significance for the Rabbitohs forward after he walked onto the field to the song ahead of his 100th NRL appearance last month.

Each performer is also donating their appearance fee to MND causes, according to The Australian.

Jai is understood to be taking a lap of honour around the stadium in a car at 7.05pm on Sunday, just 25 minutes before the 7.30pm kick-off.

The 82,000-strong crowd will also be encouraged to perform a special bow-and-arrow gesture in his honour, which has become a show of support for Arrow this season after players began performing it when scoring tries. 

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys is set to move away from the traditional model of splashing out on a big-name pre-match performer.

Instead, he will focus on what he has described as the 'moments that matter' to rugby league.

The league boss copped backlash from several fans, who accused the league of being 'exploitative' following its failure to secure a replacement headline act after Tones and I pulled out just two weeks before the NRL Grand Final.

Last week, V'landys slammed the NRL grand final entertainment as unnecessary and a waste of money.

'We've been toying with the idea for a couple of years, of rather than spending $100,000 a minute over 11 minutes for a performer, putting that money into grassroots (causes) for underprivileged kids,' he said.

'The kids that can't play with their mates, the kids that can't afford to pay their registration, the ones that can't afford to pay for their boots.

'I think that's a much better use of our expenditure than for 11 minutes that nobody really cares about.

'It's a bit like buying a cheeseburger for the pickle. You don't do that. You buy it for the cheeseburger.'

When Tones and I dropped out of the pre-game entertainment just weeks away from the match, reports ran rife that she'd refused to perform her biggest hit, Dance Monkey, despite the NRL's insistence she do so.

Tones, whose real name is Toni Watson, first made a pointed statement on her Instagram Stories last Wednesday, listing a number of Aussie artists who 'also deserve opportunities' including G Flip, Baker Boy, Budjerah and Miss Kaninna.

'Not even scratching the surface of how many incredible artists we have in this country,' she wrote.

By that afternoon, management for the 33-year-old released a statement indicating that the cancellation was over a clash with a gig date in the USA with rapper Macklemore, rather than a dispute with the NRL over the setlist.

'Tones was recently approached to perform the pre-show at the NRL grand final,' manager Regan Lethbridge said in a statement to ABC Sport.

'An offer was presented to Tones via management on September 5.

'Tones had a prior commitment with Macklemore in America and explored all avenues to make it work.

'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.'

Pre-game entertainment is a major drawcard for the grand final, with massive names brought in for previous years.

In 2025, American singer Teddy Swims headlined, with The Kid Laroi taking the stage in 2024.

Others who have graced the NRL stage include Good Charlotte, Jimmy Barnes and Tina Turner.