The Canberra Raiders have secured a last-minute replacement to sound their custom Viking horn ahead of their upcoming match against the Warriors at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. After UFC president Dana White declined their invitation, the team turned to their namesake from the NFL, enlisting Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Tyler Manoa for the honour.
Raiders Chief Executive Don Furner expressed the team’s excitement about Manoa’s involvement, highlighting the historical connection between the Canberra Raiders and the American NFL team from which they take their name. Manoa’s Polynesian heritage also adds a significant touch, reflecting the club’s tradition of featuring Polynesian players.
“We’re honoured to have Tyler kicking off the Viking clap in front of what we hope will be 60,000 fans,” Furner stated. He also acknowledged the growing representation of Polynesian athletes in both rugby and American football, noting that players like Josh Papali’i and others could have excelled in the NFL if they had pursued their careers there.
The Raiders have invested over $10,000 in a new, American-made Viking horn, stretching 3.6 metres and weighing 36kg. This decision was made to ease logistical challenges, opting to create a new horn in Los Angeles instead of transporting the original from Canberra.
As excitement builds for the game, Raiders players familiarised themselves with the Allegiant Stadium during a walkthrough on Saturday morning. Star forward Josh Papali’i described the differences in field dimensions compared to Australian rugby, anticipating a physically demanding contest.
Overall, the Raiders are looking forward to an enjoyable pre-game tradition, with hopes of a vibrant crowd participating in the Viking clap to rally the team and energise the atmosphere ahead of their clash with the Warriors.