Canberra legend Mal Meninga will lead the Viking clap at the NRL grand final

Canberra will call upon their greatest ever player to lead the Viking clap at the grand final with Mal Meninga to do the honours.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - 1994: Mal Meninga of the Canberra Raiders in action during a ARL match held at Bruce Stadium 1994 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Getty Images)

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Canberra legend Mal Meninga will blow the horn before the Viking Clap at next Sunday’s grand final.

The Raiders have enlisted the help of their greatest player to help inspire Canberra to premiership glory.

Meninga captained the Raiders to their first grand final win in 1989. That premiership decider has been an inspiration for the current Raiders team 30 years on. Teammate Dean Lance blew the horn before Friday’s game which has become one of the most spine tingling experiences in the NRL.

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Meninga captained the Raiders to three titles. Photo by Getty Images.

Raiders boss Dave Furner said Meninga was the logical choice in the club’s biggest day in 25 years.

“Mal is a perfect pick,” Furner said. “We’ve made plenty of synergies with the 1989 side already.

“We inducted Mal into our hall of fame this year.”

Plans were being made on Sunday to have the horn transported to ANZ Stadium in time for kick-off.

Furner has worked with the NRL to ensure the Viking clap is part of the build-up to the grand final even though it is not a Raiders home game. The Raiders chief executive is confident any neutral fans will get behind the green machine.

Meninga captained the Raiders to all three of their premiership wins.

“There will be more green than any other team,” Furner said. “Hopefully we will get the fence-sitters and become everyone’s’ second favourite team

“We want everyone to enjoy the experience and soak it up. It’s been a long time between drinks since we’ve been there.”

NRL chief commercial officer Andrew Abdo confirmed the Viking clap will be used as the Raiders run-out onto ANZ Stadium.

“Canberra have made the Viking clap one of the great pre-game traditions in Australian sport and we will absolutely facilitate it happening on grand final day,” Abdo said. “To have an immortal in Mal Meninga sound the horn pre game will be one of the iconic moments in the sport.”

Originally published as Canberra legend Mal Meninga will lead the Viking clap at the NRL grand final