Amy Shark has hit back at criticism after she landed in hot water this week when resurfaced comments saw her slamming the NRL Grand Final. 

In 2025, the Australian singer, 40, claimed the annual football event 'screws around artists', but she has since agreed to join other stars in performing at the 2026 match. 

She was heavily criticised for the apparent backflip but Shark has now shared a post on Instagram calling the backlash 'noise' and saying she 'loves' NRL. 

The clip she uploaded showed the performer attending the 2025 NRL Grand Final while she wore a Broncos jersey and celebrated the team's win.

'11 months ago. I love the game... don't believe the noise,' she captioned the video.  

It comes after Shark's return to the NRL Grand Final stage sparked backlash from fans who had not forgotten her criticism of the competition last year.

The Australian singer will lead members of the Screaming Jets, Grinspoon, Peking Duk and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers in a pre-match tribute to retired South Sydney Rabbitohs star Jai Arrow on Sunday.

But her inclusion ahead of Newcastle's showdown with the Sydney Roosters raised eyebrows after her criticism of the NRL in April 2025 resurfaced.

During the AFL's Gather Round dinner at Penfolds Magill Estate in Adelaide last year, the Queensland-born musician interrupted her set to criticise the rival football competition in front of more than 260 guests, including club bosses and government officials.

'I'm from Queensland so unfortunately, I've had NRL pushed in front of me, which kind of sucks,' she said at the time.

'I'm not just saying that because I'm playing tonight... you guys [at the AFL], you know what's up. We don't need to totally drill the NRL into the ground but you guys know what's up.'

Shark then doubled down after addressing the fact that an attendee might be recording her.

'Actually you know what, screw them, honestly they just screw around artists, you guys actually understand artists, thank you for doing that,' she said.

The NRL declined to comment at the time, and the specific circumstances behind her criticism were not established.

Some Australians took to social media to question why Shark would be performing after her criticism of the league.

'There is still time for him to fix this,' one fan wrote on social media.

Another said: 'How does Amy Shark get a start at any #NRL event again after she publicly s*** on the code at an AFL function?'

A third added: 'I still remember Amy Shark going ham about the NRL while playing at Gather Round lmao, how times and tunes change.'

Shark's extraordinary spray came during the AFL's Gather Round dinner at Penfolds Magill Estate in Adelaide, in front of more than 260 guests including club bosses and government officials.

News of the singer's place among the performers follows a turbulent lead-up to the league's biggest night.

Talks with Tones and I collapsed less than two weeks before the decider, prompting Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys to scrap the entertainment before reversing that decision.

He subsequently promised a 'big surprise' and 'the highest-rating 11 minutes you will ever see'.

The Australian reported that the assembled musicians will perform You'll Never Walk Alone while Arrow completes a lap of honour at 7.10pm, ahead of the 7.30pm kick-off.

Arrow retired earlier this year after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).

The performers will reportedly donate their appearance fees to MND causes, a detail that prompted some fans to defend Shark's involvement.

'Given the fiasco booking the entertainment for the grand final, I'd say what she said was pretty spot on,' one wrote.

Another questioned her decision to return but pointed to her charity work and reported fee donation, arguing the booking saga had vindicated her concerns about the treatment of artists.

Shark has supported MND fundraising campaigns throughout the year.

She took part in FightMND's Big Freeze 12 at the MCG on June 8, dressing as Amy Winehouse in a red dress and signature beehive hairstyle before sliding into the icy pool.

Sunday's appearance will also mark a return to a stage Shark knows well, having performed at the 2020 NRL Grand Final.