'Viking clap can make NRL bigger than AFL': Brett White's fan plea

The Canberra Raiders drove out of the capital on Wednesday, with fans lining the streets around their Bruce headquarters for one last glimpse for the main event on Sunday.

The Raiders haven't played in a grand final since they won the premiership in 1994, making them the overwhelming public favourite for the clash against the Sydney Roosters this weekend.

But the pre-match entertainment for fans has been making just as many waves as the players, with the Viking clap becoming one of the best advertisements for rugby league.

The Viking horn traveled on a tow truck behind the players' bus on Wednesday and the NRL has granted approval for the Viking clap to be done before kick-off.

White, a Cooma junior who spent six years at the Melbourne Storm before finishing his career at the Raiders, wants the NRL grand final spectacle to rival the AFL big-game experience.

That means every fan buying into the Viking clap, even if they're Roosters supporters.

"When you say 80,000 people doing the Viking clap ... that's going to be something special," White said.

"I really hope Roosters fans jump on board and they're all doing the Viking clap.

"All I hear from Victoria is about the AFL grand final and how wonderful it is. Well imagine 80,000 doing [the Viking clap], the NRL grand final would be world class spectacle.

"We'll blow the AFL grand final out of the water if everyone jumps on board and buys in. How good would it be to sit back in 10 years time and tell your kids about the day the Viking clap came to ANZ [Stadium]."

Asked if he expected Roosters fans to join in a Raiders tradition, White said: "For the good of the game I do.

"To get behind our game, the NRL. To make the NRL grand final better than the AFL grand final. Surely that's got to be worth buying into ... We'll blow the AFL grand final out of the water."

White is a part of Ricky Stuart's coaching staff, teaming up with Andrew McFadden to build a side capable of winning a title.

His grand final experience will be crucial to helping players prepare given just one Raider, Joey Leilua, knows what it's like to play in an NRL decider.

White said the trigger for change was everyone buying into Stuart's vision to rebuild the Green Machine as a premiership force.

"There certainly have been [some tough times]. I guess when Ricky came in with his vision of what he wanted, it was quite easy to buy into," White said.

"He said it really clear about where we need to get there. This isn't going to be a one-off year. We've built this to go on for many years to come.

"We'll be strong going forward. [The vision he sold] is exactly what this week is all about."