Unknown Star to Perform at NRL Grand Final, Overshadowed by AFL's Snoop Dogg

The NRL has selected Teddy Swims, a Grammy-nominated singer, to perform at this year's grand final as part of the pre-match entertainment. Swims, 32, gained popularity in Australia with his hit song "Lose Control" in 2024 and is set to tour Down Under in October. The grand final will take place at Sydney's Accor Stadium on Sunday, October 5.

Teddy Swims' music has been streamed over 8.7 billion times, and he has received a Best New Artist Grammy nomination and multiple MTV Video Music Awards. He has nearly nine million followers on Instagram. Despite Swims' success, the NRL's choice is seen as falling short compared to the AFL's hiring of Snoop Dogg, a well-known music icon with a massive following.

The AFL's decision to have Snoop Dogg perform at their grand final continues the trend of attracting big names in music for the event. In recent years, the AFL has featured artists like Katy Perry, Kiss, and Robbie Williams, while the NRL has had performers like The Kid Laroi and King Stingray.

Teddy Swims has previously collaborated with Fox Sports to promote the NRL finals series. Meanwhile, Snoop Dogg's selection by the AFL has faced criticism due to his past controversial lyrics and comments, including remarks about women and the LGBTQ+ community.

AFL boss Andrew Dillon defended the decision to hire Snoop Dogg, emphasizing that the artist has evolved over time and highlighting his positive contributions, such as philanthropy and youth rehabilitation efforts. Dillon stated that Snoop's performance at the grand final aligns with the event's stature as a premier sporting occasion.