NRL grand final to begin with emotional Jai Arrow tribute following pre-match entertainment debacle

This weekend’s NRL final will begin with an emotional tribute to Jai Arrow, who will complete a lap of honour to the song You’ll Never Walk Alone.

9News sports reporter Danny Weidler shared on X that currently unnamed Australian musicians will perform the Gerry and the Pacemakers classic in honour of the Rabbitohs player, who was forced into retirement after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

Weidler said the lap of honour will take place at 7.10pm on Grand Final night, ahead of the 7.30pm AEDT kick-off.

So far, it’s not known which acts will be taking part in the tribute or if it’s part of a larger-scale performance, with details so far being kept under wraps.

On Wednesday morning, NRL boss Peter V’landys responded to The Australian regarding reports of the Arrow tribute, to which he replied: “I’m not confirming or denying.”

Nine.com.au has contacted the NRL for comment.

It comes after V’landys came under fire following the withdrawal of Australian pop star Tones and I as the pre-match entertainment.

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‘You’ll be entertained’: NRL boss Peter V’landys teases grand final entertainment

On Tuesday, V’landys hinted the updated plan would be a “big surprise”.

“Watch 11 minutes before kick off and there’s going to be a big surprise... and you’ll be entertained,” he told Nine’s James Bracey.

“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.”

Last week, V’landys said the NRL had been “toying with the idea” of scrapping the pre-game entertainment before negotiations with the four-time ARIA Award winner fell through.

He said it cost between $1 million and $1.5 million for an 11-minute production.

“We’ve been toying with the idea for a couple of years now in putting – rather than spending a hundred thousand dollars a minute over 11 minutes on a performer – into grassroots underprivileged kids,” he said.

“It’s a bit like buying a cheeseburger for the pickle. You don’t do that. You buy it for the cheeseburger.”

He would not comment on the reasons negotiations fell through, despite reports it was because Tones and I made no guarantees she would perform her biggest hit, Dance Monkey, leading to NRL bosses scrapping the performance slot altogether.

“We love Tones and I. She’s a great performer, great Australian artist. We had artistic differences, and those artistic differences couldn’t be resolved,” V’landys said.

“That’s when we decided to go with the concept that we wanted to do over the last few years and donate the money to the underprivileged kids that can’t play the game of rugby league. Because rugby league is a game for all.”