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2026 NRL Grand Final pre-game entertainment: Who is performing and when is the Jai Arrow tribute?
A star-studded group of Australian musicians will come together on Sunday night for the NRL’s grand final pre-game entertainment, which will double as a tribute to Jai Arrow.
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The rugby league world has rallied around Arrow since he announced his MND diagnosis earlier this year, with the former Rabbitohs, Broncos and Titans forward awarded the Provan-Summons Medal at the 2026 Dally M Awards for embodying the spirit of the game. The game is continuing to find ways to give back to Arrow and the latest will see a host of Australian music stars join forces for an emotional pre-game rendition of Gerry and the Pacemakers’ song and Liverpool FC anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Pop star Amy Shark, who previously performed at the 2020 grand final, will lead the charge alongside members from The Screaming Jets, Peking Duk, Grinspoon, and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers.
“It’s not just about Jai,” NRL boss Peter V’Landys told Fox Sports News this week. “Jai is an inspiration to many people. We’ve received a lot of correspondence at the NRL about how what Jai is doing has inspired them.
“We had a person that had MND diagnosed exactly the same day as Jai. His world collapsed. He looked at Jai and that gave him inspiration.
“This is for all those people looking for inspiration. We’re there for you and we’re there with you and we’re going to wrap our hands around everyone. ”News of the musical tribute came after reports that the NRL’s negotiations with Tones And I fell through, with the Sydney Morning Herald claiming it was due to the pop sensation’s refusal to perform mega-hit Dance Monkey.
However, Tones and I’s team later told the ABC that the NRL’s offer had been “last-minute” and that she was unable to accept it due to prior commitments with Macklemore in America.
“Due to the last-minute nature and prior commitments by Tones, we were unable to accept the offer. ” The drama saw Australian legend Shannon Noll put his hand up to perform, while there were even murmurs Newcastle icons Silverchair could reform to save the day. That didn’t end up happening, with Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns taking to social media to confirm there would be no reunion.
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