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The NRL says it is prepared to have no pre-match entertainment at its grand final this year after talks broke down with Australian artist Tones And I.
Instead the league is offering to increase funding to grassroots competitions with the money set aside for a pre-game performance.
Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V’Landys told the ABC the money spent on pre-match entertainment could be put to better use.
“I’d prefer to see 20,000 underprivileged kids who can’t afford to play rugby league play rugby league, rather than spend a million dollars on 11 minutes of a musical performance,” he said.
The move would be a stunning break from tradition — the grand final has regularly featured pre-match entertainment, including international pop-star Teddy Swims last year.
Teddy Swims performed at last year’s NRL grand final. (Supplied: NRL)
Billy Idol and Tina Turner are among other acts to have taken the stage for the event.
V’Landys said the total cost of such performances ran close to $1 million and that the plan for grassroots funding was one he had been mulling for sometime.
V’Landys was unconcerned as to whether the event could be underwhelming without pre-match entertainment.
“Our game sells itself,” he said.
“People come to watch rugby league — they don’t come to watch a pop concert.”
V’Landys did not provide details on the record of why or how the negotiations with Tones and I broke down.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the issue centred the NRL’s insistence that Tones and I perform the song Dance Monkey, which she had refused to do.
“You spend money to get outcomes and I think it’s a better outcome to get kids that can’t afford to play with their mates, gear etc, to play rugby league,” V’Landys said.
“I’m a fan of Tones and I. 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.
“We consider a lot of artists over a period of time, but as I said, I’ve been toying with this idea for a couple of years now, about giving the money to kids to play rugby league rather than a musical act.”
Peter V’landys (right) says the league has decided it would prefer to spend its money elsewhere. (Getty Images: Darrian Traynor)
The grand final hosting rights are bid for by state governments across the country. New South Wales holds the rights now, but it is not clear if the minister for sport or the premier were consulted over the matter.
Neither office has replied to requests for comment.
NSWRL chief executive David Trodden said he had “a short conversation” with V’Landys about the prospect of funds being directed towards grassroots footy.
“I applaud his decision to use the funds to support grassroots rugby league, and particularly those children who may have financial constraints on their ability to participate in such a wonderful community sport,” Trodden said.
“Rugby league has a unique ability to provide community support to those who need it the most.”
