The pair nailed their performance of Urban’s The Fighter but Mauboy stole the show, according to fans on Twitter.
Mauboy, who began trending on Twitter shortly before the show, was deemed the “best singer” among the international acts (although some couldn’t help but take cheap shots at her once again performing for the NRL, while others were outraged that she wasn’t singing the national anthem in place of Dami Im), but Urban was also given his dues.
“NRL grand final entertainment was the best in many years Keith Urban & Jessica Mauboy just what the doctor ordered,” one fan in particular tweeted.
While another suggested Urban was “hitting it outta the park”.
Urban managed during the performance to compliment Mauboy on how beautiful she looked.
Prior to Sunday’s performance, Urban had acknowledged that he’d heard of the not-so-well received acts that preceded him at a press conference in Sydney on Thursday.
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Meat Loaf famously sang out of tune during the AFL Grand Final in 2011 and in 2014 Slash’s performance at the NRL Grand Final was deemed disappointing by critics as he played to a backing track.
Urban joked that he was “really nervous” in the lead-up to the big game but actually seemed pretty confident when describing his preparations.
“I feel good,” Urban told AAP.
“We’re going to get out there on Saturday and have a good run through of everything. I mean I’m looking forward to it, I’m also looking forward to the game too. The game’s going to be really good.
“I’m glad we got to do it and I know Richie Sambora and Orianthi are in the show as well and it’s going to be a lot of fun,” he said.
The country star is in Sydney to launch Virgin’s new Velocity Live program, a partnership with entertainment company TEG Live, giving frequent flyer members a hub where they can buy pre-sale tickets to concerts and events
The country star has had a particularly big week as his new release Blue Ain’t Your Color became his 37th consecutive number one in the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
He’s back in Australia for a national tour of his latest album Ripcord. The tour includes a performance at the Deni Ute Muster and the Grand Final slot.
And Urban was happy to reveal that he won’t be sitting on the fence when it comes to the game itself.
He’s already picked his side.
“I’d like to see the Sharks win. It would be a good sort of underdog story. I think that would be kind of good,” he said.
But there may be fisticuffs at home as his Mum, he said, is backing the Storm because of all the Queenslanders in the team.
That won’t sway Urban, though.
“Given that our home is in Sydney, I would have to be going for Cronulla I think,” he said.
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