At a time when rugby league needs all the money it can get, and while the NRL is trying to educate its players about attitudes toward women, surely cheerleaders have passed their expiry date.
As it currently stands, South Sydney is the only club without a cheer squad.
Russell Crowe made an ethical stand when he took the Rabbitohs reigns and replaced the cheer-girls with drummers. At the time he said: “Our focus is to re-establish rugby league and women … We feel that [cheerleaders] made a lot of people uncomfortable.”
But from an economical view-point, surly cheerleaders are of minimal worth?
Sure they attract some sponsorship, but it also costs money to get them out on the field each week. Evidently, clubs continually cut the budget on material used for their costumes, but pom-poms and appearance fees wouldn’t come cheap.
I propose some alternative investments better than Russell Crows drummers:
* Spend the money on week-to-week promotion of every game. I know clubs already spend a lot of money on this, but from what I’ve seen, it’s usually plain, uninspiring TV ads or newspaper prints. There are so many more potential levels to advertising these days, I think it’s time we get more creative!
* Bring back the luxuries. You get so much less for your ticket price these days when you go to support your team. I remember getting free game-day programs or footy cards when I used to watch the Raiders play at home as a kid. Reward people for coming out to watch.
* Put the equivalent resources into an organised cheer squad in the crowd. A group of people who actually lead cheers! If each team had their own organised Barmy Army, it would add to the spectacle of a game and help build fan-based culture. Give us a reason to get off the couch and into the stadiums!
If you don’t like these ideas, and you can’t think of any others, then maybe drummers aren’t so bad of an idea. But at the moment, many things in rugby league don’t add up and I think the pom-pom economy is one of them.
Terry
Guest
how long has the 20 -40 rule been in place? how long had the 10m rule been in place? 2 ref? video ref? head high tackle? all new rules all improve the game and so do cheer leaders
Terry
Guest
well maybe there should be a comprimise the girls can come cheer down our end while you can sit up the other. Or maybe you can sit right up the back then you wont be able to see them. League and the cheerleaders go hand in hand and is a vital party of footy. when you said orange I thought you were talking about thier fake tan. As far a women making up a huge percentage, last year was the highest number of female members. Also last year was the highest reported cases of league playesr assulting, raping and glassing women. So go figure. It has nothing to do with what happens off the field why women watch league it what happens on the field.
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
I think Crowe is the greatest asset the NRL has, he advertises the game everywhere he goes, he creates merchandise people would actually wear, he changed South Sydney around to be in contention for the golden prize, he has futuristic plans (and I don't think we can say that of Colin Lowe). Russell Crowe speaks what he believes, and he believes in this game. Thank God we have him, or else every idiot in the CEO position of League would love their job (because they wouldn't have to do anything and still accomplish the same as every other club!!!)
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
Check out the Wigan Warriors, they have heaps of fan groups, yet the club advertises them for fans to join. I wrote to the Broncos about taking some of their ideas and using them, but, alas, a poor season member cannot be worth much these days. I love going to the games and I have spare season tickets to take people along to the game to show them how great it is and it sucks when I bring girls and all the guys around them are wolf-whistling bimbos when I'm trying to teach them about how great the game is and how good the atmosphere is!!! And if any club officials read this BLOODY LISTEN TO YOUR FANS. May be we should march on our clubs front door and tell them we want our money back or listen to us. It gets ridiculous.
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
Mate I'm a Christian and don't feel uncomfortable about them, but to be truthful they don't get any cheers started (I'm a season member of the Broncos and I sit right behind them), they get up for 30 seconds and if 30 seconds doesn't do anything they sit down. mungo is right, invest in drums, the Reds have tribal drummers and its awesome, it gets cheers started (not always but sometimes) around the whole stadium. And most RL journos agree that footy cards is what makes AFL ahead of League in having a very strong community of followers from childhood to parenthood. Footy cards get kids talking at school, and if some kids don't have them, they want them- even if they don't follow the game. I agree again with mungo, we need a song at every club to sing, like the Souths should be singing Glory, Glory constantly, the Saints should be singing "When the Saints Go Marching In" and clubs need songs that fans can sing. The Broncos song is a disgrace!!!! Clubs should give out 100 free tickets to people who can go off their nut and perform chants with others. Adds to the crowd figure and adds to the atmosphere!!
Brett Frawley
Roar Rookie
Thanks Sheek, My opinion on cheerleaders, is that the money can be better spent elsewhere. I have never met a cheerleader, so have no grounds to make any judgement on them as people. I agree with nearly all of your second paragraph, except that I think: contrary to popular belief, God is probably NOT TRUE. (or at least, he/she doesn't belong in a cheer leading debate) I do however, loath the annual beauty pageant The Footy Show has with- 'The sexiest men in league competition'. I think its superficial, narcissistic and encourages unnecessary sexualisation of footy players (they really don't need it- they get enough). But keen to know what you think. I've also never met Russell Crowe, so can't comment on whether he is a goose or not. I don't think cheerleaders are an important fabric in the tapestry of rugby league because as the others have said (in the NRL at least) they're just not that good at what they do.
sheek
Guest
I love cheerleaders & I love beauty pageants. I don't give a stuff if that makes me politically in-correct. Contrary to popular opinion, God is probably a woman. Women are beautiful creatures, physically & emotionally. They give us a reason for living, a reason to love, to cherish, to create, to pro-create, etc, etc, etc. Keep the cheerleaders, they are an important fabric of the tapestry of sport. Get rid of Russell Crowe, he's a goose, even if he's a famous, wealthy goose. And I say that with all due apologies to my Rabbitohs mates.....
amy_p
Roar Rookie
I definitely agree. Cheerleading can be really entertaining and impressive. The problem with NRL cheerleaders is that they stand in a bunch on the field and perform mediocre moves in a sort of unison. If they did actually lead cheers and pull off impressive performances, I think it would create a great atmosphere for the crowd and the home team.
mona
Guest
terry, I'm not there with 'my man', I go with my friends, because I geniunely love football. And fair point, but it still stands that the players are their to play, but the cheerleaders are there SOLELY to be wolf-whistled at and ogled. I'm no prude, I just don't think it's a good look for the NRL who want to make women feel a part of the game and comfortable with and at the footy to then be like "BUT YOU CAN GO AND SIT AROUND YOUNG FELLAS WHISTLING AND YELLING ALL SORTS OF THINGS AT SOME LADIES!!! HAVE FUN!!!" Whether you like it or not women make up a huge percentage of crowds and league is better for it. There are other, much better, more family-friendly ways, to entertain the fans on game-day. Plus - THEY. ARE. ORANGE.
Gob Bluth
Guest
Has anyone asked cheerleaders what they think? Tey tend to be left out of these discussions. Mungo, interesting you chose the EPL as an example as they have exactly zero game day entertainment on show most of the time. yes, the crowd is entertaining but its hardly the fault of club bosses that fans don't chant in the same way English fans do. maybe fans need to be proactive rather than waiting for everything to be organised for them. Also fans groups run by fans are fun ones that are organised by the club tend to be pretty lame.
Brett Frawley
Roar Rookie
Thanks oikee, But I'd rather not join the A-League - they play soccer. But I do think some sports do the game day experience much better than rugby league and soccer is an example of that. After going to an EPL game a couple of years ago, I realized what Aussies are missing out on - I hardly watched the game, but was throughly entertained by the crowd. I think league fans are passionate enough to go crazy for their teams in the same way that European soccer fans do. We just need a little push to get going. I seriously doubt the actual cheer leading abilities of 'cheerleaders'. If you don't like chanting and cheering at football matches I suggest you stay home and watch the league from the couch.
Dylan Watkins
Guest
I love that barmy army idea, every club should probs have 2 lots of cheer squads. 1 thats family orientated, 1 thats rowdy & loud. I also would love to see coloured smoke of the teams colours when they run out.
Paul J
Guest
The AFL shorts are definately bigger these days. It is good to see a female view of cheer leaders but i think you'll find people are for and against on this issue from both genders. There has never been a big push from anyone in the RL community, male or female, to get rid of them so i guess they'll stay. There was no complaint when Souths didn't have them and the game won't change much if they do go. Personally i like cheer leaders, fire works, mascots and all that stuff. It's just part of the night out. Of course the football itself it always the main attraction.
chook
Roar Rookie
Well said, You make alot of very valid and relevent points.
Terry
Guest
Are you kidding me I love the cheer leaders. !!!!!!!!! They are fantastic and who else do the players date? Mona you are missing the point. In response A) who cares they look great B) who care they look great and they are easy to see in pink probably a little too much fabric for my liking C) how else do you train you cheer leaders to do slut dancing. Cant get them all from pole dancing clubs you know. So it ok for you to perve on the player but you feel uncomfortable when I perve on the cheer leaders. Kinda a double standard, like, dont you think ??? uh huh. Mona, Im glad you support the Broncos maybe go to the toilet or get another beer for your man while the girls are doing thier very important work at half time. Let not forget the football is alot bigger than the players, it about the fans as well.
BigAl
Guest
Thanks for the response Paul J - you may have a point re AFL clothing, but you could be locked into the 80's. However, I think the presence of cheer leaders ( and the crowd attitudes they can encourage) would be a far bigger factor - refer to mona (above).
Akazie
Guest
They have more males watch too.
Paul J
Guest
BigAl I believe the Roosters were the first to bring in cheer leaders in the mid seventies. Now here is an observation to cause some debate: NRL cheer leaders wear more clothing on their bodies than AFL players do. This may explain why the AFL have a higher percentage of females at the grounds than any other code in the country.
BigAl
Guest
I sympathise with your view Mona - maybe the NRL should show more awareness of their female fans. ! BTW This is the FIRST first time I have ever seen 'like' used in a written dialogue, as it is increasingly being used in spoken dialogue ! . . . mmmmhh!
Akazie
Guest
The swans got rid of them because they weren't really part of the swans demographic were they ;)