Ryan James will never forget the moment he experienced his first Viking Clap from the inside.
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As he prepares for his third game in green, and his second Viking Clap against the Warriors on Saturday, James has spoken about the unique feeling he had when running onto Canberra Stadium for his Raiders debut.
"I didn't know what the boys were doing, usually you run out the tunnel and you just filter out on the field," James said.
"You get in there and they start clapping, everyone's huddled around and you run out to it. It's hard to describe, it's one of those things where just the whole community gets behind it, it just gives you goosebumps when you run out to it.
"I've never felt anything like it, but it's definitely amazing to run out to."
James was on hand in 2019 when the majority of the 80,000-plus crowd engaged in the Viking Clap to usher the Raiders onto the field for their first grand final in 25 years.
Less than 12 months later he signed with the club, linking at long last with coach Ricky Stuart who has been fond of James since he was still a youngster coming through the representative ranks.
"I had Matt Ford up there on the Gold Coast, he was our head of strength and conditioning then he came down here - I've always mentioned that I'd probably come to Canberra," James said.
"I've always kept in close contact with Stick [Stuart], he tried to get us to the Roosters back in 2006 I think it was and it didn't eventuate there, and he tried to get us here a couple of times. I eventually ended up here.
"It was a bit of a family decision, the missus's parents are moving down at the end of this month as well, they're from Queanbeyan which makes life a bit easier as well."
The move looks to have breathed fresh life into James's NRL career, which was cruelled by back-to-back knee reconstructions in 2019 and 2020.
He scored a try off the bench on his Raiders debut in the round-one win over the Wests Tigers, and has staked an early claim as recruit of the season.
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"Two years off just training and getting the body feeling good, and only playing half a game of footy definitely helps," James said.
"Not slogging out 80 minutes makes your body feel a lot better come the Tuesday, Wednesday and you're able to train rather than 80 minutes and you can't train until Thursday or Friday.
"I'm loving that aspect of the game and just loving playing in a really good forward pack and team.
"It's been great and to start the season two and oh is great."