Peter V’landys confirms NRL grand final entertainment back on with mystery act set to perform

The NRL’s grand final entertainment is back on, with Peter V’landys teasing a mystery 11-minute slot before kick off at Accor Stadium.

Less than a week after it emerged the NRL was without a main act for Sunday’s decider, the game’s executive chairman confirmed on Monday that had changed.

“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,” V’landys told reporters.

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“And a lot of people will be surprised.

“There will be something, but I am not saying what it is. Stay tuned.”

The NRL had faced public backlash over the decision to go without pre-match entertainment, after talks broke down with Australian artist Tones and I.

Saturday’s headline-grabbing performance by Kylie Minogue at the AFL grand final fuelled the criticism.

V’landys had insisted last week it was not an issue that the NRL would go without, comparing the pre-match entertainment to a pickle in a burger.

The executive chairman had also pledged to spend $1 million on grassroots rugby league, instead of having that money allocated towards an artist.

Asked on Monday if that money would still go to junior league, V’landys said it would and that a smaller amount was going towards an entertainment act.

“My prime aim was to give $1 million to kids who can’t play the game,” he said.

“Under-privileged kids, that can’t buy boots, that can’t get registered, who can’t get insurances, who have all their mates playing and they can’t.

“That to me is more important than anything. And I want to develop that fund into millions of dollars, not just a million dollars.

“There is something else now that will take some expenditure, but not quite to the level that we would normally spend.”

V’landys’ comments came as the NRL launched a new initiative on Monday, with fans of Newcastle and the Sydney Roosters marching from opposite ends of the harbour bridge.

Fans of the Broncos were also present, ahead of their NRLW grand final against the Roosters.

The NRL is desperate to find new ways to expand grand final week, after talk of a third-place playoff and Indigenous All Stars game was largely knocked back by players this season.

Those are still on the table as future options, but a more likely scenario remains turning the NRLW decider into a stand-alone event from as soon as next season.

“We want a festival of rugby league. It’s clean air, you have no other product on. You can really promote the game,” V’landys said.

“Is it time to have NRLW as stand-alone? Possibly. We may look at them as a Friday night at Allianz Stadium.

“And give them their own window and let them promote themselves. The women’s game is a great game and deserves to stand alone.

“At this stage of its evolution it is so far ahead of any other women’s sport.”