The NRL has promised a ‘big surprise’ for Sunday’s grand final. These are the artists most likely to perform

NRL boss Peter V’landys has backflipped on his sensational decision to scrap the grand final pre-game entertainment and promised punters “the highest-rating 11 minutes you will ever see” before the Knights v Roosters match.

The only question that remains is: who the hell will be performing?

Talks between the NRL and Tones and I, who was originally slated to perform, broke down two weeks ago and the fallout was only made public last week, when V’Landys announced her $1 million paycheck would go to grassroots programs.

That means whatever new show the NRL is putting together had to be organised in less than two weeks, with $1 million less in the bank, and no time to fly in some big-name international act like last year when Teddy Swims performed.

Those limitations offer a few clues about whom the NRL has roped into the last-minute grand final performance, and a few possibilities really stand out.

So, here’s our best guess of who will be centre field at Accor Stadium on Sunday.

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Shannon Noll leads Aussie artists calling NRL to reinstate scrapped pre-game show

Shannon Noll

Shannon Noll has made it clear he’s up for the job, so it’s not hard to believe the NRL would take him up on the offer.

“I’m free that day, and I absolutely love my footy,” he told nine.com.au last week.

“It’d be an absolute thrill to play the grand final. I’ve actually done it once before, but it’d be amazing to be a part of a day like that again.”

Noll performed at the 2007 NRL grand final alongside the Hoodoo Gurus and Vanessa Amorosi, and also hit the stage at the State of Origin series in 2023, so he knows how the whole process works and would be a very safe bet for the NRL.

But after all this talk about Nollsie taking the job, could he really be the “big surprise” V’landys has promised?

“Watch 11 minutes before kick off and there’s going to be a big surprise... and you’ll be entertained,” the NRL boss told Nine News on Tuesday night.

“I’ve got to tell you, it’ll be the highest-rating 11 minutes you will ever see because no one knows what it is, and we won’t tell until the night.

“And a lot of people will be surprised. There will be something, but I am not saying what it is. Stay tuned.”

And you know who would be a big surprise?

Noah Kahan

He may be an international artist, but Noah Kahan is actually already in Australia for his The Great Divide Tour and will be in Sydney on the night of the grand final.

He also happens to have that night off (Kahan is performing Afterpay Arena on Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday) and could technically fit in an extra gig.

The big question is: would he do it?

The Vermont-based singer will be coming off six concerts in nine days, so he might want to take a break on Sunday instead of performing in front of 80,000 NRL fans.

Kahan’s music also leans more indie/folk than the pop and rock artists the NRL usually picks for grand final gigs, so he might not be the right fit for the occasion.

That said, it would be a “big surprise” if the NRL could manage to secure a major international act for the pre-game entertainment at the 11th hour.

Nine.com.au has contacted Universal Music for comment.

Olivia Dean

Speaking of international acts, Olivia Dean is also coming to Australia very soon and the NRL has eyed her for the pre-game gig before.

When the AFL announced it had booked Kylie Minogue for its grand final back in April, V’landys said he wanted Dean for the NRL slot.

“To have someone of the brilliance of Olivia Dean would be fantastic. We know she’ll be in town, and we’ll be reaching out to her people,” he said at the time.

“Naturally, you want to make grand final day an actual event that includes excellent entertainment. Olivia fits that bill.”

The Man I Need crooner is set to kick off her tour in Melbourne on Monday, October 5, so it’s safe to assume she’ll be in the country by Sunday night.

As for whether she’d agree to play at the NRL, that remains to be seen.

The Screaming Jets

It would only make sense for the NRL to book a Newcastle-born band for the Knights’ first grand final in 25 years, and The Screaming Jets fit the bill.

The hard rock band formed in the ’80s and is still going today, with four gigs scheduled over the next two months.

However, none of those shows fall on the night of the grand final, meaning they’d be totally free to play it.

Newcastle fans would surely love seeing a local band take the stage and the NRL probably wouldn’t have to spend the same amount on The Screaming Jets as they had planned to fork out for Tones and I.

Honourable mention: Silverchair

Look, we know Silverchair broke up in 2011 and frontman Daniel Johns has repeatedly said he doesn’t want a reunion.

But if the most iconic act to have ever come out of Newcastle can’t get back together for a Knights grand final, when can they?

Even Andrew Johns has issued a plea to get the band back together for one night only.

“Boys, we need yaz to play to make it the greatest grand final and Sunday you’ve ever seen,” he said on Nine’s Today on Tuesday.

“Come on boys, come on Daniel. After I kidnapped him he’s got an AVO out against me… come on Daniel, Chris and Ben, come on boys.”

We know it’s very unlikely, but we’re not ruling this one out.

Going rogue

Given how much V’landys has emphasised this year’s grand final act will be a surprise, the NRL really could have anyone booked.

They might have lined up a totally different but no less iconic Australian act like Jimmy Barnes (perhaps with son David Campbell?), Natalie Bassingthwaighte and The Rogue Traders, or Jessica Mauboy.

They could go for one of the local artists Tones and I suggested for the gig when she pulled out, like G Flip, Ruel, Baker Boy, The Pierce Brothers, Kye or Adrian Eagle.

The NRL might even try to follow the AFL’s lead and land a Minogue of their own – after all, Dannii Minogue is in town.