NRL names Teddy Swims to headline 2025 Grand Final entertainment; fans divided
American singer-songwriter to perform at NRL and NRLW grand finals as league seeks broader appeal
The NRL has named American singer-songwriter Teddy Swims as the headline entertainment act for the 2025 NRL and NRLW grand finals, an announcement that prompted a mixed reaction from fans on social media.
Swims, 32, said he was “so excited to be performing at the 2025 NRL Grand Final” and described Australia as “a second home” in a statement announcing the appearance. The artist, who had a breakthrough in Australia with his 2024 single “Lose Control,” is due to tour the country in October.
The announcement highlighted Swims’s growing international profile: his music has been streamed more than 8.7 billion times, he has been nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy and for several MTV Video Music Awards, and he has close to nine million followers on Instagram. NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the league viewed Swims as “one of the most exciting music talents in the world,” adding he was “the perfect performer for the NRL Grand Final day.” Abdo said Swims’s “global appeal and connection with young audiences in Australia, the US and around the world, matches our vision to grow Rugby League globally.”
The selection divided fans online. Some social media posts questioned the choice, with one user asking, “Is that Temu Post Malone?” and another writing, “I’m sorry, who?” A third wrote, “Teddy who? Only Teddy I know plays fullback at the Roosters.” Several fans suggested Australia has a large pool of local performers who would better match the “NRL vibe,” while others compared the pick unfavourably to past international acts, saying “He’s no Snoop Dogg.”
Other supporters defended the appointment, pointing to Swims’s streaming numbers and live performance credentials. “This is an elite signing! This guy will be amazing!” one supporter posted, and another urged critics to listen first: “People should listen to this guy before talking s**t. dude can sing.” Some fans cited his reported monthly streaming audience as further evidence of his popularity.
Grand Final day is one of the biggest events on the Australian sporting calendar, featuring both the NRL and NRLW championship deciders and significant broadcast and commercial exposure. The NRL has in recent years sought to broaden the event’s appeal with international musical acts and enhanced entertainment programming, a strategy Abdo framed as part of efforts to grow the sport’s global footprint and engage younger audiences.
Swims’s appearance will take place on the same program that showcases the sport’s championship matches. The announcement comes as the NRL finalises other event details ahead of the grand final weekend. Organisers did not immediately release a full list of supporting performers or a timetable for the entertainment schedule.
The choice of a U.S. pop and soul artist for a marquee Australian sporting night underscores the league’s continued emphasis on international branding; how fans and TV audiences respond on the night will be closely watched by the NRL and broadcast partners.