Sad reason Aussie singer forced to cancel NRL Las Vegas performance

Australian musician Delta Goodrem has had to pull out of a performance at the NRL’s Las Vegas weekend for a sad reason.

Australian singer Delta Goodrem won’t be performing at the NRL’s season opening weekend in Las Vegas as previously hoped.

According to the SMH, Goodrem and the NRL had been planning to have the popular Aussie musician perform at Allegiant Stadium at the rugby league showpiece on Sunday (AEDT).

Watch the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership season opening double-header LIVE from Las Vegas on Kayo, SUN 2 MAR 10AM | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

But those plans have been scrapped after Goodrem evacuated her Los Angeles home following the wildfires in January.

The 40-year-old and the NRL agreed it would be to tricky for her to appear in Vegas this year.

Instead, LA-based Australians the Stafford Brothers, Conrad Sewell and New Zealand hip hop artist Savage will perform.

Goodrem has been a regular fixture at Australian sporting events in recent years.

Delta Goodrem performing in London last year. (Photo by Lorne Thomson/Redferns)

Goodrem has been a popular choice of entertainment at Australian sporting events. Picture: Kelly Barnes

She performed alongside Robbie Williams at the 2022 AFL Grand Final and also featured as part of the entertainment the 2023 Melbourne Cup and last year’s AFL Gather Round in Adelaide.

Goodrem toured the UK last year and is now taking her Mistaken Identity: A Night of Celebration show to Fiji, Sydney and London this year.

It’s likely Goodrem won’t be the only familiar face unable to make it to Las Vegas this weekend.

At this stage Rabbitohs legend Sam Burgess won’t be able to coach Warrington against Super League champions Wigan on Sunday (AEDT) because of US visa concerns.

Burgess travelled to London in an attempt to expedite his visa, however, as yet the issue has not been resolved and his team boarded a flight to Las Vegas without him.

Coaches and players with a criminal record are often interviewed by the US consulate before being granted visas.

Burgess pleaded guilty to three driving charges in 2021.

He also tested positive to cocaine during a roadside test. He avoided conviction and was instead ordered to complete a traffic offenders program.

Warrington Wolves coach Sam Burgess might not make it to Vegas.

Burgess, 36, is entering his second season in charge of Warrington and is aiming to help the Wolves win their first Super League title since 1954-55.

The former cross code star has long been viewed as a future NRL coach but departed his role as Rabbitohs assistant in a falling out with former coach Jason Demetriou.

Burgess is contracted with Warrington until the end of next season.

In a bid to add some showbiz to the weekend, NRL supremo Peter V’landys has invited US President Donald Trump to attend the games, making a bold pitch on US show Fox & Friends.

The Canberra Raiders have also invited UFC boss Dana White to blow a massive Viking horn to celebrate their Las Vegas debut.

The blowing of the horn and the Viking clap made famous by Iceland’s soccer team has become a ritual at Raiders home games

The Raiders have commissioned an American company to build a 3.6-metre, 36kg horn, and have even invited NFL legends Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in the hope a big name American sport star can blow the horn.

The 2025 NRL season kicks off on Sunday when the Raiders play the New Zealand Warriors, the Australian Jillaroos face the England women, before the Penrith Panthers take on Cronulla in the match of the day.

NRL 2025 Las Vegas games, Sunday March 2

Wigan Warriors v Warrington Wolves (8:30am AEDT)

Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors (11:00am AEDT)

Australian Jillaroos vs England Women (1:15pm AEDT)

Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (3:30pm AEDT).

The only place to watch all four games of Rugby League in Las Vegas live is Fox League, available on Kayo.

Originally published as Sad reason Aussie singer forced to cancel NRL Las Vegas performance