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Tones and I was offered the opportunity to perform at the NRL grand final three weeks ago, which she declined due to prior commitments in the United States. The NRL decided not to secure another performer for the October 4 event and will instead donate $1 million to junior rugby league programs. This decision comes after discussions about what songs Tones and I would play did not reach an agreement, highlighting questions about why negotiations were left until so close to the event date compared to other sporting events like the AFL which secured a performer five months in advance.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-23,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The NRL grand final scheduled for October 4 at Accor Stadium will not feature headline pre-game entertainment after negotiations with Australian artist Tones and I broke down due to her prior commitments in America with Macklemore. The NRL had offered the performance role only three weeks before, on September 5th, but no deal was signed or confirmed in writing. This development left broadcaster Nine furious as pre-show entertainment is seen as crucial for drawing casual viewers to the event. In response, the NRL announced it would donate $1 million to junior rugby league instead of paying a major artist, reflecting ARLC chairman Peter V'landys's belief that investing in grassroots sports is more valuable than costly pre-game acts.
Written for “Tones And I NRL Grand Final Snub” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
Australian artist Tones and I was offered the NRL grand final gig on the eve of the finals series and turned it down because of prior commitments in the United States, according to her management.
uncertain
Tones → offer → management
This masthead revealed on Tuesday that the grand final will go ahead on October 4 without a headline pre-game entertainment act after the NRL was unable to come to a last-minute deal with the ARIA award winner.
asserted
NRL → reveal → winner
On Wednesday, the star’s management revealed she had been approached with an offer by the NRL less than three weeks ago.
asserted
she → reveal → NRL
“Tones was recently approached to perform the pre-show at the NRL grand final.
asserted
Tones → approach → final
An offer was presented to Tones via management on September 5th,” her management told this masthead.
asserted
management → present → masthead
“Tones had a prior commitment with Macklemore in America and explored all avenues to make it work.
asserted
it → have → avenues
Nothing was signed or confirmed in writing.
asserted
Nothing → sign → writing
“Due to the last-minute nature and prior commitments by Tones, we were unable to accept the offer.
asserted
we → accept → offer
We wish the NRL nothing but the very best for their event.”
asserted
We → wish → event
Sources closely linked to the matter but not authorised to comment publicly say the parties had also been unable to come to an agreement over what songs Tones and I would perform at Accor Stadium and that she had not committed to playing her global smash hit Dance Monkey.
asserted
she → link → hit
However, the timing of the approach to Tones and I has raised questions about why the NRL left it so late to try and lock in a big-name artist for the grand final.
asserted
NRL → raise → final
By contrast, the AFL secured Kylie Minogue for its grand final five months ago.
asserted
AFL → secure → final
One of the biggest events on the sporting calendar, the NRL decider has traditionally booked top Australian and international acts for its pre-game show.
asserted
decider → book → show
But after talks with Tones and I proved unsuccessful, the NRL opted not to scramble together a back-up option and has said it will instead donate $1 million to junior rugby league.
Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys said he had been considering scrapping costly pre-game entertainment before negotiations with Tones and I collapsed and believes the money is better spent on the grassroots game.
He argues the game itself is the entertainment but the absence of an audience-drawing pre-game act threatens to take the gloss off Sunday week’s grand final as an event.
asserted
absence → prove → event
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