Former rugby union star Nick Cummins, affectionately known by his nickname the 'Honey Badger', has successfully tricked a significant portion of his social media audience with a brilliantly executed and humorous prank video. The 38-year-old athlete, who boasts an impressive sporting career, shared the clip on his Instagram account to mark the annual celebration of Australia Day, capturing the playful spirit of the occasion.
The Elaborate Barbecue Illusion
In the now-viral footage, Cummins can be seen positioned on a fishing boat, expertly wielding a pair of tongs as he prepares to tend to a barbecue grill conveniently set up on the deck. The scene appears perfectly ordinary until the unexpected occurs: prawns begin to seemingly launch themselves out of the surrounding water, arcing through the air before landing directly onto the hot cooking surface.
'Check this, had to throw the barbie on because they [the prawns] are just jumping everywhere,' the ex-Wallabies international can be heard exclaiming with convincing enthusiasm. He continues with genuine-sounding astonishment, 'Holy smokes, they're everywhere! Have a go at this!' The visual effect is so well-timed and convincing that it creates a compelling illusion of autonomous, self-barbecuing seafood.
International Audience Completely Fooled
Of course, the reality behind the spectacle was considerably more terrestrial. Either Cummins himself or companions off-camera were manually throwing the crustaceans onto the grill, creating the carefully orchestrated illusion. Despite this behind-the-scenes truth, numerous followers from outside Australia were completely taken in by the convincing performance, responding with a mixture of awe and amusement.
The comment section beneath the post revealed the extent of the deception. One Instagram user remarked with apparent sincerity, 'I never knew prawns jumped like that! …hilarious,' while another declared it 'The most Australian thing I've ever witnessed.' A third commenter posed the question, 'So the shrimps throw themselves on the barbie?' demonstrating how thoroughly the prank had captured their imagination.
Further reactions included culinary fantasies, with one follower writing, 'That's a chef's dream. Imagine getting an order and it jumps to the grill by itself.' Other notable comments celebrated the apparent phenomenon with remarks like, 'Hahaha never seen anything like it', 'Paradise, where the shrimp cook themselves' and the definitive 'Only in Australia.'
Cummins' Social Media Persona and Legacy
The Honey Badger currently commands an audience of 445,000 followers on Instagram alone, having cultivated a reputation for sharing entertaining content that frequently features his fishing expeditions and interactions with wildlife in the Australian bush and outback regions. This prawn prank represents another successful chapter in his online presence, blending humour with quintessential Australian imagery.
Beyond his social media antics, Cummins' professional sporting credentials are substantial. He played 87 games for the Western Force in Super Rugby and earned 15 Test caps for the Australian national team between 2012 and 2014, establishing himself as a respected figure in the sport before transitioning to his current public persona.
A Heroic Act Beyond the Prank
The 38-year-old's public image extends beyond comedy, as demonstrated by a heroic incident last year that won him further admiration. Cummins was responsible for saving the life of a three-year-old girl at a playground, an act for which the child's family expressed profound gratitude through social media channels.
The girl's grandmother, Robyn, detailed the events in a local Facebook group, writing, 'I wanted to thank the man who saved my granddaughter's life on Saturday 4th October at the Lower Eltham Playground.' She explained that her granddaughter, Maddy, had begun choking on a soft sweet, and despite her daughter's attempts at first aid, the situation remained critical.
'Then a 'big strong young bloke' appeared from nowhere,' the post continued, 'and after a couple of unsuccessful attempts held Maddy upside down applying a couple of extra strong thumps which successfully dislodged it from her trachea.' The family concluded with heartfelt appreciation: 'God bless you, whoever you are, and we will all be forever grateful to you - each year we will remember you.' This incident reveals another dimension to Cummins' character, balancing his larrikin humour with genuine compassion and quick-thinking bravery.
