Tones and I issues statement after dropping out of NRL pre-game gig - as chairman Peter V'landys shares brutal thoughts on overpriced grand final performers

Tones and I has denied that her decision to ditch a prominent gig at the NRL grand final was motivated by the song choices. 

The Australian pop star dropped out of the pre-game entertainment just days away from the match, with reports 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 on 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 Wednesday 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.'

Peter V'landys, the Australian Rugby League Commission chairman, made his own statement on Wednesday, slamming 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.'

The final pay packet for the approximately 11-minute performance comes in at around $1 million, and V'landys had earlier said that the league's money could be better invested elsewhere. 

He announced on Tuesday 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.

Negotiations with the singer 'fell through' ahead of the grand final held at Sydney's Accor Stadium on October 4, with wide reports that the stoush was over Tones' song, Dance Monkey. 

Sources told the Sydney Morning Herald that the singer had 'refused to commit' to performing the chart-topping track, but Tones has since denied that was the case. 

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.