From Jimmy Barnes to Kylie, the hits and misses of the NRL grand final entertainment

There have been many NRL grand final fails for live music acts. But some acts didn’t even get a chance to do their thing.

Judging from the social media soundbeds for this year’s NRL grand finals teams, the Penrith Panthers are more of an AC/DC kind of team while the Brisbane Broncos favour the cruisy vibes of Luke Combs.

While booking either of those acts would have been an absolute coup for the NRL – dare to dream, right? – this year’s entertainment offers something for everyone.

The cast of Tina The Musical pay tribute to the legendary Tina Turner on the 30th anniversary of her performance of the iconic anthem Simply The Best at the 1993 grand final.

Tina The Musical will headline the NRL pre-match entertainment this year. Picture: Daniel Boud

While award-winning Yolŋu rockers King Stingray will showcase why they are one of the most exciting new acts to emerge in Australia this decade.

Over the decades of footy finals entertainment, Jimmy Barnes. both as frontman for Cold Chisel and as a solo act, has always hit it out of the stadium as a popular big gig specialist for footy finals as he did last year.

Richie Sambora and Orianthi failed to nail their pre-match set in 2016. Picture: Getty.

At the other end of the spectrum, former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora was destroyed on social media for his chaotic performance ahead of the Sharks’ historic win in 2016.

Here’s some of the good, bad and head scratching moments of NRL grand final entertainment.

When musical theatre and footy collide

The NRL has tried to play the family entertainment card with musical theatre acts a few times over the years to varying degrees of success.

Back in 1999, Hugh Jackman was a television star in Australia and making waves on the West End in London but his performance of This Is The Moment, from the Jekyll and Hyde musical, was not one of his finest … moments. It felt like that three minutes lasted half an hour.

But the big head scratcher happened a decade earlier when the cast of 42nd Street tap-danced their way to the stage at centre field and then stood there for several minutes as someone desperately tried to cue up the backing tape to We’re In The Money.

The poor cast shuffled awkwardly with their theatre smiles plastered on as the minutes stretched on and finally had to leave the field without having performed as the players prepared to run on for the second half.

Leave the national anthem to the experts

In 1986, Neighbours was so huge, it was watched by up to 16 million people in the UK alone, equal to the Australian population at the time.

So of course it made perfect sense to enlist Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Guy Pearce, Peter O’Brien and Annie Jones to perform Advance Australia Fair at the NRL grand final.

This was pre pop star era for Minogue and while there is no doubting her perfect pipes now, let’s just say her enthusiastic but hectic vocal was unfortunately the one which cut through on the broadcast. Ouch.

Jessica Mauboy is the cameo queen.

The Voice coach and regular chart-topper is on speed dial at the NRL.

Mauboy pops up every few years either as the star of the show or adding her vocal firepower as a special guest to the headliner.

She brought her mini-Beyonce vibes to the 2010 pre-game entertainment with her performance of Get ‘Em Girls and was back in 2013 to shake her stuff alongside Ricky Martin during Livin’ La Vida Loca.

League fanatic Jessica Mauboy is a regular at the NRL grand final. Picture: AAP.

Keith Urban enlisted the versatile Mauboy to duet with him on The Fighter in 2016.

And her rendition of the national anthem in 2015 was universally acclaimed as being “on point.”

Billy Idol got to the stage to perform at the grand final but didn’t sing a note. Picture: NCA.

It’s a nice day … to start again?

It was probably the easiest pay cheque Billy Idol ever banked. Travel all the way to Australia to headline the pre-match entertainment at the 2002 grand final, make a grand entrance onto the field via a hovercraft and scream “I love my footy” straight down the camera as he took his position on stage.

And then … nothing.

The rock legend’s rebel yell was silenced by a power outage which couldn’t be fixed in time for him to go ahead with his much-anticipated performance.

Sports and politics don’t mix?

The announcement that American rapper Macklemore would headline the pre-match entertainment for the 2017 grand final erupted in controversy as Australia prepared to vote on same sex marriage.

Despite No campaigners protesting the inclusion of the No. 1 equality anthem Same Love in his blistering, bouncing set, league fans and same-sex marriage supporters were clearly on the rapper’s side.

The stands of ANZ Stadium were lit up by mobile phones as thousands danced and sang along to a song which first commanded the top of the Australian charts in 2013 and returned to the top of the download charts after his curtain raising set.

Rapper Macklemore unites the footy crowd behind Same Love for marriage equality in 2017. Picture: Getty.

The other big NRL theme

While Tina Turner’s Simply The Best made an indelible and transformative stamp on the game, its successor from Aussie rock favourite Hoodoo Gurus also remains dear to footy fans.

That’s My Team, an adaptation of their 1987 hit What’s My Scene? was the league’s theme from 2003 to 2007, when the band finally got to perform it at the grand final.

Gurus fans – and the band – were not happy when Nine cut most of their performance from the live broadcast.

Originally published as From Jimmy Barnes to Kylie, the hits and misses of the NRL grand final entertainment