Talking points: ACT Brumbies fans prove they're the bravest as Speight sparkles on return

Canberrans are often described as the toughest fans in Super Rugby and the NRL because they freeze through harsh winter nights at Canberra Stadiums.

But the 7436 crowd were slipping off their seats in sweat during the ACT Brumbies 27-24 victory over the Queensland Reds on Friday night.

The Brumbies have gone from playing under a thick layer of fog in their last match of the 2019 regular season, to taking the field with smoke from the Orroral Valley bushfire billowing on the horizon.

The ACT entered its first state of emergency in 17 years but fans still turned up in the thousands and stayed well beyond the final buzzer to support their sporting heroes on the field.

Children ran from player to player with Brumbies posters and jerseys ready to be signed. Flanker Tom Cusack barely had time to cool down before he was surrounded by a circle of fans, but he embraced the chance to give back to the local community who have been doing it tough.

"Our fans are resilient, they show a lot of character and that's what we love about them," Cusack said.

"It's hard, it's either extremely hot or extremely cold here, so hopefully next week we get a bit of a lull in it and we get a nice crowd out.

"We're forever grateful for what the community does for us, it's been through a tough time and hopefully this is just a little shining light.

When Henry Speight arrived in Canberra ten years ago as a fresh-faced Fijian kid, he never thought in his wildest dreams he would become the first player to score against every Super Rugby club.

The 'bro with the fro' came back to haunt the Brumbies on his return to Canberra Stadium, threatening to derail their home winning streak with a record-setting Queensland debut.

The 31-year-old winger admitted he "felt weird" when he pulled on his Reds jersey in the locker room because he still considers the capital as home.

The nerves showed when he took the field for the first time against his former side, fumbling one of the first balls he touched over the left sideline.

But that's where he left his nerves.

It took him just 18 minutes to score his maiden try in Queensland colours, charging through the Brumbies' defence with ease from an inside pop pass by Isaac Lucas.

"Maybe the Brumbies boys were aware [of the record] and let me through for that one as a welcome home gift," Speight joked.

"It's not something you go out to break or achieve but to do it at my home is special.

"I'm in a Reds instead of a Brumbies jersey, so to come back and be applauded is very humbling.

"It just sort of lets you know you've done something right for the last nine years I was here. That was always the goal.

"It's good to be home in front of people who have done it tough over the past few months. As much as we are rivals on the field, we are all Aussies."

Talk about a redemption story. Tom Wright went from villain to hero by putting the Brumbies back in the game in the second half after squandering a try early in the match.

Wright's eyes light up when he saw an open line and was a little bit too eager to score the Brumbies' second try of the season.

He dropped the ball with the line in sight and the error proved costly when the Reds went on to score 17 unanswered points to lead at the break.

The 22-year-old redeemed himself six minutes into the second half when he tip toed down the line to score a try, giving the Brumbies the spark they needed to come back into the match.