After a string of home-grown performers, the NRL has opted for an international act to headline this year’s 2025 NRL and NRLW grand finals on October 5.
American soul and country singer Teddy Swims will perform in front of 80,000 rugby league fans, after the NRL unveiled the Lose Control singer as their pre-game entertainment.
Teddy Swims will perform at the 2025 NRL and NRLW grand finals.Credit: Getty Images
The GRAMMY award-nominated singer, who shot to fame in 2023, will perform for the fans ahead of his Australian and New Zealand tour.
“I am so excited to be performing at the 2025 NRL Grand Final,” he said.
“Australia has always been a second home to me. Every time I am there I am overwhelmed by how welcoming the people are. I fall more in love with the culture, and just everything about it. So, to be welcomed to perform one of the biggest nights in Australia is a huge honour.”
The announcement ends a run of Australian talent at the NRL grand final – Waterloo-born rapper The Kid Laroi performed at the 2024 final, Arnhen Land rock band King Stingray performed in 2023, and Jimmy Barnes, Kate Miller-Heidke and Amy Shark appeared before that.
However, the NRL has attracted bigger international acts before – One Republic in 2019, Macklemore in 2017 and Keith Urban in 2016.
The NRL’s announcement comes after the AFL unveiled American rapper Snoop Dogg as their grand final entertainment.