The NRL grand final has finally arrived and with it the hotly debated pre-game entertainment, which played out as a touching tribute to Rabbitohs player Jai Arrow – with one shock twist.
It kicked off with Australian singer Amy Shark, real name Amy Billings, belting out the opening lines of You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers a cappella as a hush fell over the crowd.
Amy Shark performs as the NRL pay tribute to Jai Arrow at the grand final. Getty Images
Retired South Sydney player Jai Arrow and former Wallaby Nathan Charles take part in a victory lap. Getty Images
She grew visibly emotional as she approached Arrow, who was sitting in a custom motorbike, and continued to sing.
A piano kicked in as she moved into the first verse and Arrow began his victory lap around the field, with an estimated 80,000 fans raising the lights on their wristbands in tribute to the beloved Souths player.
Arrow was forced into retirement after being diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) earlier this year.
As the victory lap continued, Billings joined Dave Gleeson, lead singer of legendary Newcastle rockers The Screaming Jets, for a stirring rendition of What’s Up by Four Non Blondes.
Members of Grinspoon and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers also performed, along with Reuben Styles from Peking Duk.
His attendance came as a big surprise to many fans, after musical duo Peking Duk announced they would not be performing earlier today.
Styles later clarified that he would be making an appearance as a solo artist.
Reuben Styles surprised plenty of fans when he appeared on stage. Darrian Traynor/Getty
Aussie singer Phil Jamieson, from Grinspoon, then hit the field to kick off a cover of Simply The Best by Tina Turner, joining Billings and The Screaming Jets on the main stage.
All the while, Arrow continued his victory lap as tens of thousands of fans cheered him on and made the sign of an arrow over their heads in his honour.
The musical performance ended with a fireworks display, then it was straight into final preparations for the NRL grand final kick-off.
Dave Gleeson, lead singer of The Screaming Jets, performs at the grand final. Darrian Traynor/Getty
Inside the grand final entertainment debacle
The debacle around the pre-game show kicked off less than two weeks before the grand final, when reports leaked that talks between the NRL and Aussie singer Tones and I had collapsed.
NRL boss Peter V’landys then announced there would be no entertainment before the match and the $1 million that would usually be spent on a music act would instead go to grassroots league projects.
A number of Aussie artists, including Shannon Noll, called for the scrapped show to be reinstated and even offered to perform themselves.
“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.”
There was also speculation that a Newcastle band like Silverchair or The Screaming Jets would be called up to perform at what would be the Knights’ first grand final match in 25 years.
V’landys did eventually backflip, but not in the way everyone had hoped.
First, he promised fans a “big surprise” that would be “the highest-rating 11 minutes you will ever see”.
Then, instead of announcing a new headline music act, he revealed the NRL would honour Rabbitohs player Jai Arrow with a tribute before the grand final kicked off.
Peter V’landys announced the NRL would honour Jai Arrow at the grand final. Getty/Nine
Even then, some punters hoped to see a big name Aussie act take to centre field for a surprise performance before the Knights v Roosters game.
“We got some very special Australian performers that are going to perform some really good songs to go with Jai walking around the field,” V’landys teased at the Dally M Awards on Wednesday night.
“I can’t confirm any of them, but you will be very impressed by the ones that are there and they’re going to do Jai a great tribute.”
On Friday, news broke that members of legendary Newcastle band the Screaming Jets would be teaming up with Amy Shark and members of Grinspoon, Peking Duk, and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers for the musical tribute.
Amy Shark and members of the Screaming Jets, Grinspoon, Peking Duk, and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers were rumoured to be performing at the NRL grand final. Graphic: Polly Hanning
There was yet another update on Sunday morning, when Peking Duk duo Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles announced they would not actually be performing.
“Despite the rumours, Peking Duk will not be performing at the NRL grand final tonight,” they wrote on Instagram, adding that they already had a gig planned in Cairns for grand final night.
Source: www.nine.com.au
