The NRL’s pre-game entertainment plan will reportedly centre on a touching tribute for Rabbitohs great Jai Arrow, as Silverchair confirmed they won’t be reuniting for a performance at the grand final.

Just days after rugby league supremo Peter V’landys said viewers would be “very entertained”, The Australian has revealed the league will use the prime time slot to honour Arrow with a lap around the field.

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The NRL has been left scrambling to fill the prestigious pre-game appearance after talks broke down with Tones and I to perform at Accor Stadium.

There had been widespread calls from fans including Knights royalty Andrew and Matty Johns for iconic Australian band Silverchair to reuinited for a performance at the NRL Grand Final.

Silverchair, made up of frontman Daniel Johns, Ben Gillies, and Chris Joannou, burst onto the Australian music scene in the 1990s at the same time Newcastle won premierships in 1997 and 2001.

Andrew Johns famously “kidnapped” a then teenaged Daniel Johns after the 1997 grand final win, and the Knights legend had led calls fo Silverchair to get back together, even through the band has not played a show since 2010.

Unfortunately, those calls will not be answered. Daniels Johns took to social media to say the band was too “rusty” to perform, but threw his support behind the Knights.

“For the first time in ages, the three of us actually agree wholeheartedly about something: GO KNIGHTS!!!,” a joint statement from Silvershair read.

“It’s all about the Knights this weekend. We love how footy brings this community together, and it’s pretty special watching the whole Steel City get behind the boys.

“Thanks to everyone who’s asked if we’re playing before the game. We’re way too rusty, so sorry, no can do. We won’t be taking the stage, but we’ll be supporting as loudly as everyone else and there in spirit.

“Wishing the Newy players all the luck in the world this Sunday.

“UP THE KNIGHTS!!! From The Chair x”

According to The Australian, Tones and I has been replaced by a production that will see mystery Australian artists perform together to honour Arrow, who was forced into immediate medical retirement this year following a diagnosis of motor neurone disease at age 30.

The Australian reports the undisclosed artists will combine to sing Gerry and the Pacemakers classic You’ll Never WalkAlone in an a cappella style performance.

According to the NRL’s run sheet, the official “pre-game” festivities begin at 6.30pm with the game kicking off at 7.30pm.

According to Nine, Arrow will be sitting in the back of a car during the performance which will reportedly begin after 7pm.

Fans divided over classy Arrow gesture

Rugby league fans have taken to social media to share their opinions about the plan for the show to go ahead without any headline act.

Fans have expressed concerns about the plan to use Arrow’s tribute as form of entertainment.

One X user posted: “I have no problem with it as long as it’s not supposed to be a manipulative substitute for failing to have any entertainment booked”.

Another fan posted: “Jai isn’t for our entertainment. A tribute isn’t entertainment. Surely it’s at the point of him just being used now. Give him prime seats and let him be”.

Australian sports journalist Jon Tuxworth wrote: “PVL legit thinks we’re all stupid”.

Other fans, however, praised the NRL for putting Arrow at centre stage.

One X user posted: “Now people are sooking that Jai Arrow is going to do a lap of honour to we will never walk alone at the gf. Amazing experience for him and his family”.

Another X user posted: “Too smart again Peter Vlandys. NRL Grand Final pre-game will be next level across Australia with the Jai Arrow tribute, while Tones and I are playing at Echuca.”

It was earlier suggested a “light show” will also feature.

Veteran rugby journalist Paul Kent reported on Fanatics TV: “The whisper is, it’s going to be a light show.

“They’ve probably got those drone things that they had at Vivid that crashed into Darling Harbour.”

V’landys on Monday confirmed the league had a plan in place after Tones and I pulled out.

“I’ve got to tell you, it’ll probably be the most high-rated 11 minutes you’ll ever see because no one knows what it is, and we won’t tell you until the night,” V’landys said at the grand final launch in Sydney.

“And a lot of people will be surprised.

“There will be something, but I’m not saying what it is. So just stay tuned at 11 minutes to, and you’ll see.

“I don’t think you’ll be shocked, but you’ll be very, very well entertained, put it that way.”

Last week’s pre-game entertainment announcement came with a separate pledge that the NRL would spend $1 million on grassroots rugby league.

V’landys confirmed that was still going ahead just days after Aussie legend Kylie Minogue put on a show at the AFL Grand Final.

“My prime aim was to give $1 million to kids that can’t play the game; underprivileged kids that can’t buy boots, that can’t get registered, that can’t get insurance. All their mates are playing and they can’t,” he said.

“And that to me is more important than anything. And I want to really develop that fund into millions of dollars, not just a million dollars.

“There’s something else that will take some expenditure, but not quite to the level of what we would normally spend.

“Kylie’s an icon, so you can never underestimate Kylie, but is that Sandilands you’re talking about?”

More than 80,000 fans will pack out Accor Stadium to watch the premiership decider between the Knights and Roosters.