The NRL struggled to line up its traditional grand final pre-match entertainment until days before the big game. Olivia Dean was deemed too expensive. Tones and I was considered too complicated, especially if her hit song Dance Monkey was off the playlist. A Silverchair reunion was ruled out given the late notice and well-known disagreements between band members.
V'landys then announced there would be no show at all, saying he would rather spend $1 million on junior development than a big-name act. But during the week, he made a late turnaround, declaring there would be a show that would be "the highest-rating 11 minutes you will ever see".
It emerged the NRL planned a tribute to Jai Arrow, the former Rabbitohs player forced to retire after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. The tribute became the centrepiece of the pre-match entertainment, replacing the traditional musical performance.
The article's author, Garry Maddox, poses the question: moving or exploitative? The tribute draws on Arrow's emotional story, which has resonated throughout the season, but the chaotic planning and last-minute pivot have raised questions about the motivation behind the decision.