Plane tickets. Check. Viking helmet. Check. Giant Lebanese Drum, hopefully squeezed into a suitcase. Check.
One of the NRL’s most dedicated fans, Simon Tayoun – also known as the Canberra Raiders’ drummer – flew to Las Vegas this week after learning local authorities had given him their blessing to watch the game with his giant drum and Viking costume inside Allegiant Stadium.
Canberra Raiders superfan Simon Tayoun will be in Las Vegas on Sunday to cheer on his club in their NRL clash with the Warriors. Credit: Oscar Colman
While Raiders players Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies tried to bang each other with an inflatable baseball bat during a hotel skirmish, Tayoun will be doing his best to beat his precious drum, sure to make the players and travelling Green Machine fans feel right at home.
The 59-year-old Tayoun travels to every Raiders game except North Queensland, where his drum is banned. The Gold Coast also informed Tayoun that his drum would not be welcome this year.
The Raiders and NRL asked Tayoun to provide photos and the dimensions of his drum last week before they pleaded his case to officials at Allegiant.
Canberra superfan Simon Tayoun tries to squeeze his famous drum into his luggage before flying to Las Vegas.Credit: Oscar Colman
“I called up and heard nothing last Thursday, but then I received a call from the Raiders on Friday at 3.30pm, telling me I could take my drum into the stadium,” Tayoun said.
“I started jumping up and down like a kid.
“They told me they would send me an email to let me know where I would enter at the stadium.
“Had I not been allowed to take the drum, I would have still gone to Vegas, but not gone to the game. The drum, the helmet – that’s me, that’s my costume. No drum, forget it, I won’t go.
Next stop, Las Vegas: Canberra superfan Simon TayounCredit: Oscar Colman
“But I’ll be banging the drum so hard, everyone will love it.
“You will see me walking around Vegas with my drum and helmet, every day, from morning to night.”
Tayoun, who moved from Lebanon to the south-western suburbs of Sydney in 1987, fell in love with the Raiders after watching them play South Sydney at Redfern Oval. His brother-in-law loved Souths, so Tayoun went for Canberra, just to annoy him.
Tayoun pays $100 for excess baggage when taking his drums to interstate games. According to the Qantas website, an extra piece of luggage costs $500 for a round trip to America.
While posing for this masthead at his home, Tayoun gave up trying to make his drum fit into his suitcase, and started bubble-wrapping his prized helmet.
After Vegas, Tayoun will push on to New York where he plans to pose for photos with his drum in Times Square.
Raiders CEO Don Furner appreciates Tayoun’s commitment, and said: “Simon is a wonderful addition to our crowd, he always gets them fired up, and it’s fantastic knowing he will fly all that way – with his drum and helmet – to be a part of it.”
The Raiders and New Zealand Warriors game will be seen by millions of TV viewers around America on Fox Sports’ free-to-air channel.
