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The NRL has confirmed that Teddy Swims will perform at Sunday's grand final after the American music star sent shivers through the code by cancelling multiple shows due to ill health.
Swims, who had a big hit in Australia with his 2024 song Lose Control, was forced to pull out of recent concerts in Hawaii after losing his voice in the middle of a performance.
'Honolulu, I'm so sorry to let you know that both tonight's show (Saturday, September 27th) and tomorrow's (Sunday, September 28th) rescheduled performance will not be taking place,' the artist, whose birth name is Jaten Collin Dimsdale, said on his Instagram.
'My doctor has not cleared me to sing, and I need a little time to recover before I can give you the show you deserve.'
However, his health problem has now cleared up, according to NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.
'We had confirmation that he's making a great recovery and his voice is in great shape, so he'll be good for Sunday,' Abdo said.
Teddy Swims has been confirmed as the pre-match entertainment at the NRL grand final
The news comes after the American musician threw a scare into the code when he was forced to cancel multiple shows after losing his voice
Swims will be under pressure to match the rave reviews Snoop Dogg received for his performance at the AFL grand final
Swims' performance ahead of the premiership decider is sure to come under scrutiny after NRL supremo Peter V'landys slammed the AFL's grand final entertainer, Snoop Dogg, while comparing him to the singer.
'We saw what the FLA [AFL] got, what's he called, Labrador, or poodle... Labradoodle,' V'landys teased.
'All I know is it's a dog act, so we had to get better than that.
'We [the NRL] actually got a vocalist, none of this doof doof stuff... this bloke (Swims) can actually sing.'
Snoop Dogg's performance at the AFL decider got rave reviews.
The news that the league chose Swims to perform at the year's biggest match was met with a mixed reaction from footy fans when it was made official in early September.
'Is that Temu Post Malone?' posted one social media user.
'I'm sorry who?' replied another.
'Only Teddy I know plays fullback at the Roosters,' said a third.
'He's no Snoop Dogg,' a fourth wrote.
Abdo labelled Swims the 'perfect' artist to belt out his music in front of more than 80,000 fans.
'Teddy Swims is one of the most exciting music talents in the world, making him the perfect performer for the NRL Grand Final day,' Abdo said.
'Teddy's global appeal and connection with young audiences in Australia, the US and around the world, matches our vision to grow Rugby League globally.
'Grand Final day is a special event on the sporting calendar, capturing moments that last forever.
'Including a fresh superstar like Teddy Swims alongside some of the best male and female athletes in the world will take the entertainment experience for sports fans to a whole new level.'
