If you watched the stunning Raiders win on telly last Friday night, you were not alone. The match-winning try has gone viral worldwide, with Sky Sports in the UK posting video footage to more than 7 million followers on X.
Ethan Strange’s 90-metre dash was also picked up by BeIn Sports (Qatari multinational network of sports channels), which posted a replay with French commentary to more than 4 million followers on their X account.
The “miracle in Mudgee” will go down in history as the most-watched try in history.
Closer to home, the Raiders vs Penrith game-winner was watched by more than 1 million followers on the NRL’s Instagram account and a further 600,000 on TikTok.
If you missed it (where on earth were you!?), there were just 1:51min remaining in the first half of golden point when Nathan Cleary’s long-range field goal attempt hit the left upright and rebounded into the field of play for Jed Stuart to pick up the bouncing ball, sending Ethan Strange racing downfield before passing to Kaeo Weekes to score.
The NRL finals race has reached fever pitch. The Raiders fandom and their green sausages are in rapturous hysteria.
The phenomenal try also rated the biggest broadcast audience for a Friday 6pm match since the NRL expanded to 17 teams in 2023.
The Raiders may well break the internet.
Prior to the game, a video of a young Raiders fan at a Book Week parade taunting Penrith players nearly crashed the web with almost 52,000 likes on TikTok. The hilarious video was of 10-year-old Reuben “the dinosaur kid” Jones, filmed by his dad, opening his T-Rex costume to flash his lime green Raiders jersey at Penrith Panther players. Burn. Reuben became an instant sensation and was even welcomed into Canberra’s sheds after the game to celebrate the win with the players.
@penrithpanthers Thing are heating up in Mudgee 🫨
Even in sleepy Mudgee (population 12,833), a record was set with Glen Willow Stadium hosting its biggest crowd ever. A record 9,925 fans went through the gates to see the Canberra Raiders defeat the Penrith Panthers in spectacular style and lock in a top-two spot and two home finals.
The records continue to fall, with the Canberra Raiders set to break a 31-year-old attendance record at GIO Stadium with another sell-out this weekend. Up the Raiders!
