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The NRL grand final will go ahead without a headline act on Sunday week, after a dispute with booked talent Tones and I.
Negotiations with the Australian pop star, whose real name is Toni Watson, 'fell through' with the grand final to be held at Sydney's Accor Stadium on October 4.
The disagreement was reportedly over Watson's biggest hit, Dance Monkey, with sources telling the Sydney Morning Herald that the singer had 'refused to commit' to performing the chart-topping track, despite the NRL's insistence she do so.
Peter V'landys, the Australian Rugby League Commission chairman, told the publication that Watson was to be paid '$90,000 a minute' for the gig.
The final pay packet for the approximately 11-minute performance comes in at around $1 million.
V'landys said that the league's money could be better invested elsewhere, and announced that the NRL will donate $1 million to fund underprivileged kids in the junior rugby league instead of forking out for a big-name replacement act.
The NRL grand final will go ahead without a headline act on Sunday, after a dispute with booked talent Tones and I (pictured)
'We believe that the entertainment is our game. It's more the media that put themselves into a frenzy over who we get as performer,' V'landys said on Tuesday.
'But when you look at it realistically for 11 minutes, it's not worth it.
'People will come to the game with or without it. We believe the money is better spent on junior rugby league.'
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.
The disagreement was reportedly over Watson's biggest hit, Dance Monkey, with sources claiming that the singer had 'refused to commit' to performing the chart-topping track
Meanwhile, there is no musical drama over at the AFL, where Saturday's grand final is set to go ahead with a performance from pop superstar Kylie Minogue (pictured)
The pre-game entertainment is normally enjoyed not only by the 80,000-plus crowd at Accor Stadium, but viewers tuning in at home, and the departure from the usual program marks a major change for the NRL.
Meanwhile, there is no musical drama over at the AFL, where Saturday's grand final is set to go ahead with a performance from pop superstar Kylie Minogue.
The 57-year-old chart topper will appear before what will likely be a sell-out crowd at the 100,000-seat Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on September 26.
Kylie is expected to play a 20-minute set before her hometown fans and a TV audience of millions.
The hitmaker is believed to be walking home with a whopping $3 million for her highly anticipated gig.
Her enormous payday was reported in the latest issue of New Idea, after the AFL recently confirmed that Kylie was on their 'wish list' for some time.
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