NRL grand final: Tina Turner tribute a huge hit at Accor Stadium

Tina Turner left her mark on the game thirty years ago, and before the 2023 decider, the rock icon’s classic tracks once again lit up the NRL grand final.

Tina Turner rocked the grand final thirty years ago and on Sunday evening the rock star’s classics lit up Accor Stadium once again.

In a fitting tribute paying homage to Turner’s 30-year contribution to rugby league the cast of ‘Tina – The Tina Turner Musical’ belted out the songstress’s iconic tunes to the delight of the sellout crowd.

With Tina’s name up in lights and to a backdrop of light lasers and pyrotechnics fans were treated to some of Turner’s biggest classics including Proud Mary, River Deep Mountain High and Nut Bush.

Tina Turner the Musical #LIVE at the NRL Grand Final! 🎤

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— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) October 1, 2023

But of course the loudest cheer, and sing along, was reserved for the song that would headline arguably the game’s greatest ever marketing campaign – Simply The Best.

While the NRL did cop some heat over their choice of entertainment, especially when it was revealed the AFL had booked rock legends and international headliners KISS, there would not have been a fan at Accor Stadium that would have swapped Ruva Ngwenya, the singer who plays Turner in the musical.

But some fans were quick to point out that Ngwenya did not perform another favourite with rugby league fans, What You Get Is What You See.

The crowd was warmed up by the supporting act, Australian rock band King Stingray. The Northern Territory band performed one of their most popular songs ‘Down Under’.

Originally published as NRL grand final: Tina Turner tribute a huge hit at Accor Stadium