The National Rugby League named Baker Boy and The Kid LAROI as co-headliners for Sunday’s Telstra Premiership and NRLW grand final entertainment at Accor Stadium, staging a pre-match concert that bridges Arnhem Land rap and Western Sydney drill before the Roosters meet the Knights.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the pairing reflects rugby league’s youth audience and the code’s push into US markets after the Las Vegas opener earlier this year. Baker Boy, Danzal Baker OAM, will perform new material from his upcoming album Djandjay, while Laroi—who grew up supporting South Sydney—returns to the grand final stage two years after headlining the 2024 decider.
Run of show
Entertainment begins at 5:40pm AEDT with a Welcome to Country and a showcase of grassroots female rap collectives, followed by Baker Boy’s set on the halfway line stage. Laroi closes the pre-game slot with a medley expected to include his collaboration tracks before the NRLW grand final kicks off at 7:05pm. The men’s match follows at 9:20pm after a shortened presentation ceremony.
Accor Stadium operators will close general admission lanes at 5:00pm to clear the field for production trucks. Fans with concert-only tickets—a new product trialled this year—can enter through dedicated gates in the Olympic Boulevard precinct.
Industry context
The AFL attracted global attention with its Snoop Dogg-led pre-game show last weekend; Abdo joked that rugby league would showcase “home-grown voices first” while still booking Laroi’s international touring production. Instax returns as naming sponsor of the entertainment package, extending a deal that includes fan photo booths along the concourse.
Both artists issued statements thanking Sydney crowds. Baker Boy said performing before a grand final felt like “bringing family culture to the biggest sporting night of the year,” while Laroi noted he would watch Knights hooker Harrison Graham back up after Phoenix Crossland’s suspension before taking the stage.
Broadcast and logistics
Channel Nine will carry the concert segments on its main feed and stream extended angles on 9Now. Transport for NSW will run additional Olympic Park trains every six minutes from Central after 4:30pm, with police closing Edwin Flack Avenue to private vehicles from noon.
Weather forecasts show a possible shower band crossing Sydney late afternoon; production crews have waterproof covers for the LED rig. If lightning enters a 10-kilometre radius, the NRL will delay the concert but keep the match schedule within the broadcast window.