NRL chief Peter V’Landys mocks AFL’s Snoop Dogg pick, confirms Teddy Swims for grand final

NRL chairman Peter V’Landys on Wednesday derided the Australian Football League’s entertainment choice for its grand final and confirmed American singer Teddy Swims will headline the NRL Grand Final on October 5 at Accor Stadium in Sydney.

Appearing on Channel 9’s Today show, V’Landys deliberately referred to the AFL as the "FLA" and mocked the league’s music selection, saying the AFL had opted for "doof doof" music and calling rapper Snoop Dogg a "Labradoodle." He said the NRL had chosen "a vocalist, none of this doof doof stuff," and described Swims as someone who "can actually sing."

Swims, 32, will perform on grand final day, an event the NRL said will draw more than 80,000 fans to Accor Stadium. In a statement quoted by the league, Swims said he was "so excited to be performing at the 2025 NRL Grand Final" and described Australia as a "second home," saying he was honoured to be part of one of the country's biggest nights.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo called Swims "one of the most exciting music talents in the world," saying the artist's global appeal and connection with younger audiences matched the NRL's vision to grow rugby league internationally. "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," Abdo said.

The AFL earlier confirmed Snoop Dogg will perform at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 27. V’Landys’s comments followed that announcement and reignited a debate over the musical line-ups chosen by the two codes for their respective grand finals.

Social media responses to the NRL announcement and V’Landys’s remarks were mixed. Some users questioned Swims’s profile, with one post asking, "Is that Temu Post Malone?" and another saying, "I'm sorry who?" Others compared Swims unfavourably to Snoop Dogg. Others praised the NRL for booking a vocalist.

Swims had a notable presence in Australia in 2024 with his song "Lose Control" and is scheduled to tour the country in October. The NRL has positioned the entertainment lineup as part of a broader effort to enhance the grand final day experience and expand rugby league's international reach.

V’Landys, who is chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission, has in the past been outspoken about matters relating to the sport's promotion and commercial strategy. His public criticism of the AFL's entertainment choice on a national television program highlighted the rivalry between the two football codes as they stage their showcase events within a week of each other.

Both leagues have emphasised that musical acts are part of a larger entertainment package on grand final days, which also includes pre-game and halftime presentations and on-field ceremonies. The NRL's announcement of Swims as headliner follows a season of similarly high-profile sporting and entertainment tie-ins in Australian sport.

Tickets for the NRL Grand Final and related events remain in demand. The AFL's Snoop Dogg performance at the MCG and the NRL's Teddy Swims appearance at Accor Stadium are set to draw attention as the two codes finish their seasons in late September and early October.