He couldn’t resist. An unknown Canberra Raiders fan won over a legion of fans after pretending to smoke a joint before kick-off in the nation’s capital on Friday.
The Raiders returned home and took on the New Zealand Warriors in a must-win clash at Canberra Stadium and fans were wrapped up for the occasion as they prepared for the Viking Clap before kick-off.
The Viking cheer is a coordinated chant that gained widespread popularity through its association with Icelandic football fans during Euro 2016.
The chant involves participants standing with their hands raised and then clapping in unison, starting slowly and gradually increasing in speed and intensity.
However, when the horn sounded, the Raiders fan noticed the camera was focused on him and decided to crack a little joke.
He was holding a can of drink in a small cooler, so he quickly brought it to his lips and then pulled out a lighter, pretending to “light” the can as if it were a water pipe or bong.
There is no suggestion that the fan was consuming any illegal substances.
However, many football fans noticed his fake act and quickly shared it on social media.
“My brother in the back was playing a different trumpet,” one fan joked.
“The old icebreaker saxophone,” posted another.
“A couple of hot ones on a cold Canberra night,” added another.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has given a huge thank you to the club’s loyal supporters who have supported them through a four-game losing streak and the biting ACT cold.
The quality of football displayed in the Raiders’ 20-18 victory over the Warriors was also pretty abysmal.
Stuart’s men were outscored four tries to three but held firm thanks to Warriors five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita, who had a stunning night with the boot after first-choice kicker Adam Pompey limped off injured.
Raiders celebrate tense win that snapped four-game losing streak
But the 8,509 fans who braved the polar conditions (with temperatures apparently below zero) won’t mind. For the first time in more than three months, they have a home win to celebrate.
“It was so cold. I have to thank those fans,” Stuart said. “I’m so happy that we won for those people because, my goodness, it was so cold. And for those fans, they’re your loyal people, they’re your loyal supporters.”
Since a golden point win over the Titans in Round 6 in April, the Raiders have lost at home to Cronulla (40-0), the Roosters (44-16), North Queensland (34-16) and Newcastle (16-12).
“We’re not trying to lose,” Stuart said.
“We’ve been disappointed not to have won our last few home games in front of big crowds. But it was even more satisfying tonight with those people who came out. They are loyal, determined and tough fans and I want to thank them.”
Canberra welcomed back injured scrum-half Jamal Fogarty, who played a major role in getting them back into the winners’ league.
As disappointing as the results have been, more worrying have been the performances, which have not looked like those of a top eight team.
But recent weeks have shown glimmers of promise.
Canberra came close to beating the Knights and were back to their spirited best in the opening quarters against the Warriors, racing out to a 14-0 lead, with the return of scrum-half Jamal Fogarty adding some much-needed direction in attack.
With three of the Raiders’ next five games at home, they will be banking on the Canberra faithful to once again turn GIO Stadium into the Viking fortress that has been key to success in happier days.
“I can’t sit here and ask people to come to games,” Stuart said.
“The only thing I can do is continue to try to prepare the football team to play as well as we did during the first 30 minutes.”
