"Raidermania reached its pinnacle" in Canberra on this day in 1989 as the Raiders readied to face the Balmain Tigers in the NSW Rugby League grand final.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Raiders fans all over Canberra and Queanbeyan went troppo, decking out their homes and cars in green, or in the case of transport supervisor Max Kunze donning a home-made viking helmet.
We'll let this vintage report speak for itself: "He was bubbling with enthusiasm. 'I'd go anywhere like this,' he said. Even though Max's horns clashed with his blue shorts, which were almost as big as his "Cairns thongs", his intentions were right on track."
"Nobody dared suggest that the Raiders might lose tomorrow - and even Balmain prop Steve Roach might have had second thoughts as Max would "like to stick these horns up Blocker's a---".
"Max said with a "size 10 Gladiolus hat" and a "Foster's body" his outfit could not look better on any other Viking."
Max tipped Canberra to beat Balmain 18-12. He wasn't far off. The final score, after Chicka Ferguson pushed the game into extra time and Steve Jackson rampaged to the tryline, was 19-14. The Raiders had their first premiership.
We're sure Max had a heck of a day and night celebrating.
