More than 80,000 fans were expected to honour South Sydney Rabbitohs player Jai Arrow at the NRL grand final between the Knights and Roosters.
Arrow, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease earlier this year, had recently led Souths onto the field to "You'll Never Walk Alone" for his 99th and 100th games with the club.
The NRL introduced a special rule allowing him to stay on the field until the kickoff whistle, then leave for the bench.
Peking Duk had reportedly been booked to perform the Gerry and the Pacemakers song during Arrow's tribute, alongside Amy Shark, Screaming Jets, Grinspoon and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers.
Hours before the game, the duo rejected the reports on social media: "Despite the rumours, Peking Duk will not be performing at the NRL grand final tonight,"
They added, "We have a few theories on why…" and explained, "Theory 4: We're busy playing in Cairns tonight," before signing off, "Up the Knights."
The group said the NRL had not contacted them and tagged Accor Stadium as the post's location, despite their Cairns performance.
The confusion followed reports that Tones & I could not take a last-minute offer to perform because of prior commitments.
ARLC chairman Peter V'landys had first suggested scrapping the traditional pre-game show and spending its $1 million budget on junior footy, but later promised a surprise.
"Watch 11 minutes before kick-off and there's going to be a big surprise... and you'll be entertained," he told Nine.
He added, "I've got to tell you, it'll be the highest-rating 11 minutes you will ever see because no one knows what it is, and we won't tell until the night. And a lot of people will be surprised. There will be something, but I am not saying what it is. Stay tuned."