After a loss, Raiders superfans still have a spring in their step

No person can accuse Simon ‘The Raiders Drummer’ Tayoun of being a fair-weather fan.

It would not matter how far he must fly or how poorly his staff are doing, the 60-year-old might be there within the entrance row decked out in his common Viking get-up.

So, after the Canberra Raider’s rollercoaster loss to the Broncos within the qualifying ultimate final weekend, one can be forgiven for considering he’d be crippled with nerves forward of the do-or-die semi-final at the moment.

However Mr Tayoun is as optimistic as ever.

“I really like this membership, and I fall increasingly more in love with this membership.”

An unofficial mascot, Mr Tayoun is one in every of three acquainted faces whose job it’s to hype up the Inexperienced Military on recreation day.

And the upcoming must-win recreation in opposition to the Cronulla Sharks may both mark the tip of the season for the minor premiers or maintain alive their hopes for his or her first premiership in 30 years.

‘No drum, no good’

Mr Tayoun’s obsession with the Raiders started in 1987 when he watched his first recreation of rugby league.

Regardless of residing in Sydney, within the coronary heart of Bulldogs’ territory, Mr Tayoun’s devotion has by no means swayed.

“I fall in love from the primary.”

However his alter ego because the Raiders Drummer — a green-helmet clad viking — was born in 2014 when he realised there was no person to steer the Viking Clap at away video games.

Since then, he is dedicated to bringing his {custom} drum to each recreation aside from North Queensland, the place it has been banned.