Revealed: Global star to headline NRL finals… but fans are NOT happy about it

The NRL has confirmed its main act for this year's Grand Final, with football bosses opting for an Australian twist on the showpiece.

Australian artist and tragic South Sydney Rabbitohs artist The Kid LAROI will perform at Accor Stadium ahead of kick-off on October 6.

The Grammy-nominated star was with the 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 young boy growing up in Sydney, I would drive past the Rabbitohs training at Redfern Oval and dream of playing rugby league and making music. And now I'm going to have that moment where I have to pinch myself to play my music in front of a roaring crowd of rugby league fans on Grand Final day,” he said.

“It really doesn’t get much better than this.”

The 21-year-old has produced huge hits such as “Stay” and “Without You,” which reached number 1 charts worldwide.

“The Kid LAROI embodies the energy, enthusiasm and ambition of Rugby League. We are celebrating the end of another record-breaking season and are looking to take Rugby League to new heights in the future,” said NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.

“He is one of the biggest music stars in the world and rugby is also in his blood, having grown up in South Sydney and following his beloved Rabbitohs from a young age.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs tragedy hit the players in Las Vegas earlier this year

“He will make for an incredible day of football finals.”

However, football fans were far from convinced by the appointment of The Kid LAROI and expressed their opinion on X.

“FFS,” posted one fan. Another said: “The NRL. Amateur hour again…”

“Who?” asked a third fan. “The AFL constantly beats the NRL in this regard.”

The AFL, on the other hand, has selected Katy Perry to perform at its grand final later this month.

“Damn. Can't we finally get this right,” said a fourth angry fan. “Last year the wrong [Tina] Turner nonsense and now some kid that most NRL fans have no interest in. AFL, get it, what's going on NRL???'

He will perform before the biggest game of the season on October 6

Other fans, however, sharply countered the critics and insisted that The Kid LAROI was a true global superstar.

“Great job NRL,” said one fan. “This guy is a passionate NRL fan and a megastar.”

Another said: “He's one of the biggest acts to come out of Australia in years. It's not such a bad choice.”

“Finally a real star,” said a third fan. “I'm surprised he agreed.”