Las Vegas Raiders participant Tyler Manoa will blow Canberra’s iconic Viking horn forward of the conflict in opposition to the Warriors on the NFL workforce’s residence base, Allegiant Stadium.
The Raiders confirmed at their stadium walk-through on Friday (Saturday AEDT) that the defensive sort out, who has a Samoan heritage, had agreed to take part within the pre-game festivities after Dana White turned the membership down.
Canberra had been eager to contain a Las Vegan of Pasifika heritage given the variety of their very own squad. Matt Timoko, Joe Tapine, Seb Kris and Kaeo Weekes are all common first graders with Maori heritage, whereas Josh Papalii and Simi Sasagi each have Samoan roots.
When UFC boss White had a previous engagement, the Raiders had been hopeful of securing a participant from the NFL workforce that impressed Canberra’s nickname when the membership entered the NSWRL in 1982.
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That they had spent some $10,000 on a reproduction of their big Viking horn, which is a fixture of their residence video games however was too delicate and huge to be transported over to America.
Membership greats Jarrod Croker and Mal Meninga, who’d blown the horn earlier than, had been choices, with each in Vegas as ambassadors this week.
It’s believed chief govt Don Furner was the mastermind behind securing Manoa, whom the Raiders approached partly due to his rugby background and Pasifika heritage.
“We’ve at all times had a proud historical past of Polynesian gamers at our membership,” Furner stated.
The Raiders are actually exhausting at work to discover a jersey large enough for Manoa, who stands 196cm tall and weighs 141kg.
Manoa, 25, has not but made his NFL debut however performed 54 video games in his collegiate profession between UCLA and the College of Arizona.
He joined the Raiders in late 2024 after a stint within the Arizona Cardinals’ follow squad.
Canberra prop Papalii applauded the Raiders for choosing a participant who mirrored the membership’s sturdy Pasifika contingent.
“It’s very particular. It’s my id as a Samoan and to see a fellow Samoan from Vegas it’s a particular milestone not just for the Canberra Raiders however the Las Vegas Raiders and Samoan individuals generally,” he stated.
“It makes me really feel much more comfy being in Vegas. Hopefully we catch up after a very good win tomorrow.”
© AAP
