Bemused Origin fans blast NRL for choosing 'has been' band Wolfmother to hype up the crowd in Perth: 'They sound like a bunch of dads'
Footy fans have slammed the NRL for choosing Aussie rockers Wolfmother as the pre-game entertainment ahead of Origin II in Perth on Wednesday.
Best known for smash hit songs Mind's Eye as well as Joker & The Thief, it was an odd choice in the eyes of many given the band formed in 2004 - and arguably were at their peak the next couple of years.
With coverage on Channel Nine starting at 7:30pm AEST, ahead of kick-off 35 minutes later, the free-to-air network happily played Andrew Stockdale and his band members on stage at Optus Stadium.
And it didn't take long for supporters to pan the performance on X.
'Nothing screams Perth more than hiring a band that peaked literally two decades ago and have done nothing since,' tweeted one disgruntled fan.
'They sound like a bunch of dads who are in a Wolfmother cover band,' posted another.
Nothing screams Perth more than hiring a band that peaked literally two decades ago and have done nothing since #Origin
— Jase (@JRumb0l42) June 18, 2025
Wolfmother sound like a bunch of dads who are in a wolfmother cover band #Origin
— Scottie J - Man of Teal (@The_Man_Of_Teal) June 18, 2025
'This is actually giving Meatloaf a run for the worst thing I've ever heard,' added a third.
Another talking point leading into the clash was a bold statement from Phil Gould.
'Gus' stated Blues prop Payne Haas is the 'greatest front rower of all time' - statistically speaking.
'His body of work is unsurpassed,' the Bulldogs boss told Channel Nine viewers.
Fans of footy legends such as Arthur Beetson, Glenn Lazarus, Steve Roach and Petero Civoniceva may disagree.
On the field, NSW took a 6-0 lead following an early try to winger Brian To'o, with Zac Lomax booting the conversion.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow responded in the 12th minute for Queensland with a much needed four-pointer - before the flyer crossed the stripe again moments later to give Billy Slater's men a shock 12-6 advantage midway through the first half.
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