- LAROI kid to perform at NRL grand final
- The tragic Souths has received the big call
- Football fans are divided over his appointment
The NRL has confirmed its headline act for this year’s Grand Final, with football bosses opting for an Australian flavour for the showpiece event.
Australian entertainer and South Sydney Rabbitohs tragic The Kid LAROI will perform at Accor Stadium ahead of kick-off on October 6.
The Grammy-nominated star was with Souths players ahead of the season opener in Las Vegas earlier this year and shared his joy at being called up for the big game.
“As a kid growing up in Sydney I would drive past Rabbitohs training at Redfern Oval dreaming of playing rugby league and making music, and now I’m going to have this pinch-me moment playing my music in front of a roaring crowd of rugby league fans on Grand Final day,” he said.
“It really doesn’t get any better than that.”
The 21-year-old has produced huge hits such as ‘Stay’ and ‘Without You’, which have reached number 1 around the world.
“Kid LAROI embodies the energy, enthusiasm and ambition of rugby league as we celebrate the end of another record-breaking season and look to take rugby league to new frontiers in the future,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.
‘He’s one of the biggest music stars on the planet and also has rugby league in his DNA, having grown up in Sydney’s south and following his beloved Rabbitohs from a young age.
LAROI kid to perform at this year’s NRL grand final in Sydney
The South Sydney Rabbitohs tragically met the players in Las Vegas earlier this year.
‘He’s set to kick-start an incredible day of grand final football.’
However, football fans were not convinced by the appointment of The Kid LAROI and turned to X to voice their opinion.
“Oh my god,” one fan posted. Another said: “The NRL. Amateur hour once again…”
“Who?” asked a third fan. “The AFL continually outperform the NRL in this regard.”
The AFL, on the other hand, has selected Katy Perry to perform at its grand final later this month.
“Fuck me. Can we get this right?” said a fourth disgruntled fan. “Last year, the fake (Tina) Turner nonsense and now a girl that most NRL fans have no interest in. Does the AFL get it? What’s wrong, NRL?”
He will perform before the most important match of the season on October 6.
However, other fans responded to the criticism, insisting that The Kid LAROI is a genuine global superstar.
“Great job NRL,” said one fan. “This guy is a passionate NRL fan and a huge star.”
Another said: “He’s one of the biggest artists to come out of Australia in recent years. Not a bad choice.”
“Finally a real star,” said a third fan. “I’m surprised she agreed.”