‘Unable to accept’: Tones and I responds to NRL grand final drama
Source: ABC Entertainment
Australian singer Tones and I has spoken out over reports that a disagreement with the NRL led to it ditching its pre-match headline act for this season’s grand final.
Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V’landys has said that instead of looking to attract another big star to perform before the October 4 decider at Accor Stadium, the NRL will instead direct the $1 million payment to junior rugby league.
Reports suggested its negotiations with Tones broke down after she refused to commit to singing her huge 2019 hit Dance Monkey, which she has previously said she “loathes”.
But in a statement provided to a number of media outlets on Wednesday, the ARIA-winning singer’s representative said an offer for her to perform at the NRL grand final pre-match show was only presented on September 5.
“Tones had a prior commitment with Macklemore in America and explored all avenues to make it work,” it said.
“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.”
Neither Tones’ management nor the NRL made any reference to her hit song being a sticking point, with V’landys telling ABC Sport he was a “big fan” of the singer.
“She is a great performer, no doubt about that, and she’s got some great songs, but as I said, we both decided to go to a different direction.”
Tones, who is currently a judge on The Voice Australia, has toured multiple times with US rapper Macklemore and collaborated with him on the 2022 song Chant.
According to Rolling Stone, she had been set to perform with him during Ed Sheeran’s current US tour, before controversy erupted and Macklemore was dropped over pro-Palestinian comments made during a concert.
The NRL’s decision to break with tradition and go without a major pre-game set is expected to make a dent in the number of TV viewers tuning in to the Channel Nine broadcast.
It also comes after the AFL secured pop icon Kylie Minogue to headline its 2026 grand final pre-game entertainment ahead of the showdown between Fremantle and Brisbane at Melbourne Cricket Ground this Saturday.
Tones and I previously performed at the 2019 AFL grand final, where she sang Dance Monkey.
Ahead of last year’s title deciders, V’landys mocked the AFL’s choice of Snoop Dogg as grand final entertainment, calling the veteran rapper a “dog act” while promoting the NRL’s booking of another American performer Teddy Swims.
“What’s he called, Labrador or poodle? All I know is it’s a dog act. We had to get better than that and we actually got a vocalist,” V’landys said at the time.
However, he appears to have changed his tune, telling the Sydney Morning Herald this week that “rather than giving a performer $90,000 a minute, we would prefer to give it to grassroots”.
“We believe that the entertainment is our game. It’s more the media that put themselves into a frenzy who we get as performer.
“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.”
A spokesperson for the NRL told AAP V’landys had been in discussion with the NSWRL about junior funding well before the reported stand-off with Tones and I and her management.
–with AAP
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