Tones And I has broken her silence after the NRL declared it will forego a grand final tradition of pre-match entertainment.
On Tuesday, Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V'landys told ABC Sport the NRL's plans to have Tones And I perform before next month's showpiece event would be cancelled.
The NRL will use the money set aside for pre-match entertainment to contribute to children playing rugby league.
But Tones And I's management said no deal had been signed or confirmed in writing.
Via a statement sent to ABC Sport, her management representative Regan Lethbridge said "prior commitments" were a sticking point.
"Tones was recently approached to perform the pre-show at the NRL grand final," the statement read.
"An offer was presented to Tones via management on September 5.
"Tones had a prior commitment with Macklemore in America and explored all avenues to make it work.
"Nothing was signed or confirmed in writing.
"Due to the last-minute nature and prior commitments by Tones, we were unable to accept the offer.
"We wish the NRL nothing but the very best for their event."
The Sydney Morning Herald reported the issue centred the NRL's insistence Tones And I perform the song Dance Monkey, which she had refused to do.
But neither Tones And I or V'Landys has cited the set list as the issue at play.
Tones And I has previously said she loathed the hit song, which enjoyed significant commercial success when released in 2019.
Macklemore found himself at the centre of his own live upheaval after being dropped from Ed Sheeran's The Loop Tour, over pro-Palestinian comments.
'A different direction'
V'landys said he wished Tones And I well.
"I'm a fan of Tones And I," he told ABC Sport on Tuesday.
"She is a great performer, no doubt about that, and she's got some great songs, but as I said, we both decided to go to a different direction."
V'landys said the cost of putting on any artist for a grand final performance was about a million dollars.
"I'd prefer to see 20,000 underprivileged kids who can't afford to play rugby league play rugby league, rather than spend a million dollars on 11 minutes of a musical performance," he said.
To have no pre-game show would be a stunning break from tradition.
The grand final has regularly featured pre-match entertainment, including international pop star Teddy Swims last year.
Billy Idol and Tina Turner are among other acts to have taken the stage for the event.
V'landys was unconcerned as to whether the event could be underwhelming without pre-match entertainment.
"Our game sells itself," he said.
"People come to watch rugby league. They don't come to watch a pop concert."
V'landys did not provide details on the record of why or how the negotiations with Tones And I broke down.
"You spend money to get outcomes and I think it's a better outcome to get kids that can't afford to … play rugby league," he said.
"We consider a lot of artists over a period of time but as I said, I've been toying with this idea for a couple of years now, about giving the money to kids to play rugby league rather than a musical act."
The grand final hosting rights are bid for by state governments across the country.
New South Wales holds the rights, but it is not clear if the state minister for sport or premier were consulted over the matter.
Neither provided comment in response to questions.
New South Wales Rugby League chief executive David Trodden said he had "a short conversation" with V'landys about the prospect of funds being directed towards grassroots footy.
"I applaud his decision to use the funds to support grassroots rugby league, and particularly those children who may have financial constraints on their ability to participate in such a wonderful community sport," Trodden said.
"Rugby league has a unique ability to provide community support to those who need it the most."
