NRL Grand Final pre-game entertainment shredded by fans

The NRL had planned to honour its departing stars, but the moment fell extremely flat as fans torched the pre-game acts.

The NRL’s pre-game Grand Final entertainment got off to a rocky start on Sunday night.

Jimmy Barnes was billed as the headline act, but before Barnes took the stage the NRL paid tribute to the retiring stars of the game in a moment that fell apart like a cheesecake without a biscuit base.

Players stood in the stands as the stadium announcer worked through the list of those 21 departing the game.

Close to half the players honoured however weren’t in attendance, forcing the announcer to continually say they were “unable to attend” which quickly became the butt of the joke.

“This “unable to attend tonight” tribute is beautiful,” Ryan Fitzgerald tweeted.

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This is so awkward. Why even honour them if they’re not there? :/ #NRLGF

— Shannon Grixti (@shancake_) October 2, 2022

Bliss n Eso, featuring JOY, then took the stage to farewell the players and their performance didn’t quite hit the right notes with fans.

The Aussie hip hop artists attempted to get the fans up and out of their seats but those in attendance weren’t having it despite the repeated demands.

Not quite Robbie Williams is it? #NRLGF

— TAB (@tabcomau) October 2, 2022

That was bad!! Not one fan cheered for who ever was singing #NRLGFpic.twitter.com/f1EMPGg9vL

— Nikki Merritt (@nikkicecil89) October 2, 2022

Bliss n Eso asking the crowd to make noise. Pretty sure y’all just infected us with some kind of noise masquerading as music. #NRLGF

— jonnyforeigner (@j_foreigner) October 2, 2022

#NRLGF what is this pre match unentertainment?

— Chris Kirkwood (@Kirkwood_Chris) October 2, 2022

As the main pre-game act got underway it was Sheldon Riley opening the show with an ominous rendition of ‘Everybody wants to rule the world’.

But then came the main man to rescue what had been a lacklustre build up. Barnesy hit the stage and the crowd got off their feet for the first time.

Barnesy’s still got it! #NRLGF

— TAB (@tabcomau) October 2, 2022

Barnesy has 70-odd thousand westies belting out Working Class Man in unison and I am genuinely here for it #NRLGF

— Brett Sprigg (@BrettSprigg) October 2, 2022

Barnes then made his way through a host of guest stars from Diesel, Josh Teskey and Emma Donovanto blast out some tunes, it was the second half of the act that divided opinions among those watching on.

Ok sorry, who's this guy?#NRLGF

— Brett McKay (@BMcSport) October 2, 2022

Earlier in the day Mahalia Barnes wowed fans ahead of the NRLW Grand Final with a breathtaking display.