Pre-game entertainment > The Grand Final … ???

Reports have come out and confirmed what was rumoured last night, that the North Queensland Cowboys final training session on Saturday will have to be moved from ANZ Stadium due to a sound check and rehearsal by Macklemore, who will evidently be the pre-game entertainment.

Now I don't know what a Macklemore is, to be fair I'm not the target demographic for this particular artist, but one thing I do know is, his presence means about 1/1000th on the day as that of the Storm and Cowboys.

Why are the Cowboys being forced to shift their training session from the home of the NRL Grand Final to Kogarah Oval to accommodate pre-game entertainment?

The thought is absolutely ludicrous and should rightfully anger those associated with the Cowboys.

A few on social media have stood up for those decision makers saying that the pre-game entertainment, in this instance Spacklemore, have always rehearsed at such a time and that the Cowboys should have known better, or something.

Like it matters!?!?

The Cowboys, along with the Storm, are the star of the show on Sunday, and literally the only reason 95% of people are tuning in.

Can you imagine in SnackySpores was bumped to accommodate a Cowboys training session a day before a concert in Madison Square Garden?

The Storm, as Minor Premiers, should get the choice of which training session they want. The Cowboys should be able to choose ANY time on Saturday they wish to train, and Flacklemore should sound check whenever else is left.

This is the NRL Grand Final. Rugby League. Not a 15 minute Blackmores rap concert.

This is more than likely isn't an NRL made decision, but the fact the NRL would let ANYTHING disrupt the build-up to either team playing in the decider is a huge embarrassment.

Don't get me wrong, the pre-game entertainment is a fun part of the day. Last year I took great pride in murdering Bon Jovi's Living on a prayer after a few jibber juices. I sang along to every word, sometimes incorrectly, when Cold Chisel tore up ANZ Stadium in '05.

Just because I don't know who Lackispore is, doesn't mean there won't be hundreds of thousands watching who will enjoy his show.

But why are people tuning into to a rugby league game on Sunday? Hint: it's in the name, RUGBY LEAGUE!!!

ANZ Stadium last year would have sold out for the Sharks/Storm decider no matter who had been booked to sing a few karaoke tunes pre-game. I was there, literally no one I spoke to even mentioned the entertainment until it was underway.

Ditto for the Cold Chisel show prior to the Cowboys/Broncos two years back, and I guarantee you Chisel were much closer to the audience of the crowd than Mackleback.

As to who played in years gone by ... I remember Slash playing along to a backing track and the power not working one year.

Tell you what though, I won't forget the games.

Why can't Packlejack do his sound check later that evening, when both teams are tucked away in their hotel rooms with their minds on Sunday's massive event?

Look, it's certainly not the end of the world that the Cowboys have to have their final training run a few kilometres down the road. All the hard work is done. But ... BUT ... why isn't EVERYTHING being done to accommodate the team who just a day later will be competing to lift the trophy for the second time in three years?