The 2019 NRL grand final coverage closed with a shot of a microphone and Simply The Best playing over the top of the coverage.
It was a none too subtle hint that Tina Turner is on her way back – or at least the game’s greatest anthem was. The idea is a great one – bring the tune back 30 years after it enjoyed a league life.
But the talk around Turner has gone quiet.
No encore: Tina Turner performing live at the 1993 NRL grand final at Allianz Stadium.
This column has been told the reason for this is the $1million price tag that Turner or her management has placed on the deal. There is a view from the NRL that they could get Taylor Swift for that kind of money – but the sentiment Turner would bring with her would obviously not be part of the price.
The NRL have confirmed that they are still in talks with her management – and they didn’t deny the $1million asking price. The word out of the NRL is that they ‘‘won’t be breaking the bank” to do the deal. In other words, Turner won’t get what she wants or anything close.
If the NRL paid near $500,000 for Simply The Best it would be a massive win for Turner’s camp, but I’ve been told the NRL consider even that figure too much. I asked the NRL for comment but they won’t talk on the record at the moment because the deal is still being discussed. They do say though that they picked up Bon Jovi’s This is Our House for an estimated $250,000.
Turner’s agent knows there is a desire for her to be “the voice” of league again and they know there has been hype surrounding a potential return. That puts pressure on the NRL to deliver.
The issue with Turner is she now lives in Switzerland and is in poor health. The NRL are being told she would not sign any deal with performances. The NRL would only get the rights to use the song for the promotion of the competition. There is also talk of additional fees for the broadcasters if they want to use the song to promote the coverage or any shows they have. It’s unclear if the fee that is being charged would allow another performer – Jimmy Barnes has been mentioned to me, as has Jessica Mauboy – to perform the league anthem on grand final day.
Having lived and reported through the Simply The Best era, romantic and nostalgic league fans would love to revisit the days of Tina Turner, but you need to respect the NRL for not being railroaded.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/si...yEMSjYRZYPzh-o0pnLw70Pcy-A#Echobox=1573929438
