Penrith coach Ivan Cleary says the capacity crowd at BlueBet Stadium mimicking the Raiders’ trademark Viking clap mid-match was harmless fun.
As the Panthers players began to turn on the after-burners in the second half of Sunday’s 36-6 demolition of Canberra, scoring four unanswered tries, the Penrith fans performed two Viking claps as they rubbed in their team’s dominance.
Cleary, who has enjoyed some theatrics of his own in the past, once gesturing to fans of his former club Wests Tigers after a Penrith win, believed the crowd reaction was within acceptable bounds of sporting entertainment.
“My experience is that away crowds give it to you constantly. All the best stories are from some of the crowds you have to face,” Cleary said.
“Look I don’t think anyone should be getting too sensitive about stuff like that.
“The crowd pay their money and they’re the life and blood of every game – not just your home crowd but every crowd.
“That’s what you want. You want people turning up in droves…. It’s just a bit of fun and games.”
Former Cronulla hooker Michael Ennis was roundly criticised for performing a Viking clap as his Sharks beat the Raiders in the 2016 NRL finals series.
Raiders Coach Ricky Stuart was dismissive when asked whether the crowd’s Viking clap crossed any line of disrespect on Sunday.
“I’ve got not thoughts on it… was that really a big focus point?” Stuart said.
Canberra captain Jack Wighton didn’t want to enter into the discussion about it before Stuart muttered a profanity under his breath.
“I have got no comment mate,” Wighton said.
“Well if that is all we have got to talk about,” Stuart interjected as he motioned to leave.
“F*** me dead.”
The two clubs do have history, facing each other in consecutive NRL grand finals – the Raiders winning in 1990 and the Panthers getting their revenge in 1991.
At the end of yesterday’s game Wighton and Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards became involved in a bit of pushing and shoving, which in turn led a large group of players jumping into the fray.
“It’s a competitive game. The rules are what they are these days and you can’t sort it out through what happened in the old days with punches in there,” Cleary said.
“But it’s just frustration.”
Panthers skipper Isaah Yeo said he understood how feelings could spill over at the end of a match.
“Obviously both proud clubs – there’s all that history of the grand finals I guess,” Yeo said.
“So there’s always been a little bit there but it’s also all in good nature.
“It’s just two competitive sides going at it.”
