A star-studded group of Australian musicians have come together at Accor Stadium to perform a powerful tribute to retired Souths star Jai Arrow and former Wallaby Nathan Charles.
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Indie pop star Amy Shark started with an emotional rendition of You Will Never Walk Alone as Arrow and Charles completed a lap of honour.
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Shark then joined Aussie rock icon and lead singer of Newcastle band The Screaming Jets Dave Gleeson on stage with the pair singing a cover of the 4 Non Blondes hit ‘What’s Going On’.
Grinspoon frontman Phil Jamieson then joined the fray, walking onto the stage while singing Tina Turner’s iconic tune ‘Simply the Best’.
The trio then ended the performance next to Arrow and Charles to belt out the rest of the Tina Turner smash in front of a boisterous Accor Stadium crowd.
Reaction to the pre-game entertainment was mixed.
Alongside Arrow, Charles was also honoured prior to kick-off.
The 37-year-old, who played for Tests for Australia, revealed his motor neurone disease diagnosis during the week and will united with his cross-code rival Arrow during the GF entertainment.
“In the last few weeks I have been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, which has been extremely challenging and overwhelming … and just at times quite cruel,” Charles told Stan Sport.
Each musician’s appearance fee is reportedly being donated to the fight against MND.
“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.
“Nothing was signed or confirmed in writing,” Tones and I’s management said.
“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.
Source: www.foxsports.com.au
