Former Bulldogs’ cheer captain and now Big League journalist Darcie McDonald has slammed select NRL clubs who have culled their cheerleaders as the politically correct stance is excluding women from rugby league.
The controversy began in 2007, when South Sydney owner Russell Crowe, decided to axe his cheerleading squad because he believed they made people feel uncomfortable.
McDonald feels cheerleaders have been demonised and has rubbished Crowe’s claims, saying it’s a “massive contradiction” for the NRL when they’re trying to boost female participation in all areas of rugby league.
“Back in the day, they (cheerleaders) were the pinnacle. They were the first women to be part of the game. If we’re trying to boost women’s profile in the game, why are we turning a blind eye to these girls”? McDonald told Macquarie Sports Radio.
South Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and now Brisbane have replaced cheerleaders with ‘dance squads’ in an effort to ‘desexualise’ the game.
However there are questions as to who is actually sexualising the cheerleaders. Are fans actually complaining or is this simply an effort from clubs to display cheerleaders in a bad light in order to claim supposed moral high ground by making a social justice – politically correct statement?
Despite the controversy, the North Queensland Cowboys are one of a few clubs who continue to fully support and promote their cheerleaders. In December, they announced their major partners, Tropic Petroleum have joined the ‘Cowboys Spirit’ cheer-squad as presenting partners for 2019.
Each Cowboys Spirit cheerleader has their own biography on the clubs website, they are promoted in local news media and are proud to perform in front of home crowds.
To be a cheerleader, you must be at least 18 years-of-age, however the Cowboys have now introduced a ‘pep squad’ for 16 and 17-year-olds who dream of becoming a Cowboys Spirit cheerleader and will now have the opportunity to perform next to the Spirit cheersquad on the field.
There is a high level of professionalism within the Cowboys Spirit team. Cheersquad members have extensive experience in dancing, ballet and gymnastics. Many hours of training and preparation goes into each routine and each performer needs to be athletically and physically fit to execute their part in each performance.
The Cowboys go on to add in an official statement that Spirit cheersquad performers are not only involved in on-field entertainment but are also active in the community as role models off-field.
It’s important to acknowledge that cheerleading is a sport in its own right and perhaps more education is needed for people to truly understand what cheerleading is all about.
Clubs that have abandoned their cheerleaders obviously haven’t kept up with the fact that cheerleading is so much more than the superficial image and stereotype that cheerleaders are only attractive girls shaking their pompoms.
They are athletes. They are incredibly talented. They work together as a team. They are role models to girls and boys who dream to perform and most importantly, they are proud of who they are and what they do.
Yet some clubs are happy to take that away from them and exclude them from the game.
UKRL
Roar Rookie
@Clipper Dead set you are a pelican. So because some nobody in Melbourne who (follows AFL) does'nt think cheerleaders are relevant. Suddenly all the other football codes that like them should get rid of them? The NFL who are the most professional football code in the world is using them more than ever. So how does that make them dated when the NFL is streaks ahead of any sporting code in Australia? They have always been a big part of games with the Manly Sea Eagles and always will be. Just like they will always be a big part of the Roosters, Sharks, Panthers and many other NRL clubs. Keep you political correctness to your own small minded bubble.
UKRL
Guest
The NFL who are the most professional sporting organization in the world is still using cheerleaders more than ever. So why should the NRL listen to you? I follow Manly and the cheerleaders have always been a huge part of our games. And guess what, they will continue to be a big part of our clubs games. Just like Cronulla Sharks, Sydney Roosters, Penrith Panthers, Parramatta Eels, etc.. Who all fully support cheerleaders being a big part of game atmosphere.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Priorities, priorities. I'm closely following the national conversation on the LFL (Lingerie Football League) initiative raised by Papi Smurf just up the page, breathlessly awaiting a result.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
“hate speech”? Hate speech! This is hate speech: “your “Broncos might not make finals unless they start winning some games” was the daftest thing I would read today”. Can you not imagine how Ethan Zavjalova feeeeels after copping this from Nat? You must admit it is very hurty.
Neel
Roar Guru
True. We live in some sad times.
Karen
Guest
I'm glad the cheer leaders are gone.The disgusting remarks I used to hear being yelled out to the girls used to make cringe and I'm pretty open minded lol.Now I can go to the footy and just enjoy the game with the family.
Rob
Guest
Wonder what Tina Turner and Pink think about the ban the cheerleaders movement?
Rob
Guest
Being a Cowboys supporter i so appreciate them entertaining the crowd before and during halftime. Stop some of us falling asleep watching the team at the moment. My sitter was a good baton twirler back in her youth. Gave her an opportunity to participate in the pre game and cheer on the team. She loved it and had great fun. Just saying. Is there something wrong with having fun and showing support for your team?
Cugel
Roar Rookie
I thought was an April Fool's joke. Do people really stumble through life with such a tenuous grip on reality?
Nat
Roar Guru
They are literally the clubs' cheerleaders today, straight from their most recent FB posts. I posted those sites as a 2 fold comparison, 1, the quality/athleticism of the routines. 2, the comments under each post. I don't think we are too far apart on this. I applaud what the Cowboys have done and it's not new. I was at Dairy Farmers in the early days and I would say the routines were very good. Correct me I'm wrong but the group were recognised back in the early 2000s in some way (did they get invited to perform at the GF or another large event not specifically Cowboys related)? Plus they had the younger brigade (10yo or younger at a guess) performing and having a great time. In more recent times I been to dozens of Bronco, SOO and SFS, Brooky, Win stadium games and the glamour aspect has long overtaken the performance side. Don't get me wrong, I could easily argue the opposite side. Football and half naked girls struting around the boundary is a great a night out. However, that doesn't meet today's societal expectations and I would give it up today to have the game I love grow and become more inclusive. For mine, this is change not sacrifice and for those we lose due to this, we get back many times over for the new concept.
Nat
Roar Guru
All good mate, I know who you're talking too.
Downsey
Roar Pro
He's quoting my use of the word chick.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Absolutely astro!
Old mate bigJ
Roar Rookie
whatevs? what are you 12?
John
Guest
Examples you have chosen are from the more out-dated version of cheer-leading still being used by some clubs. I have been specifically referencing the more skills based cheerleading that clubs like the Cowboys are utilising. All things being equal a dance troupe and the modern day cheerleading shouldn't have too much difference when it comes to family entertainment, if the focus on recruitment of both has a heavy emphasis on skills. The main difference in approach is whether wholesale firing of a group and asking them to reapply for the job is better than retraining the individuals and letting go the ones that don't quite fit the new mould would have been better.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Lose the victim mentality. As I said yesterday, you sought me out and made personal remarks, not the other way around.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Whatevs...
Justin Credible
Roar Rookie
why are you so interested? do you want to know or you just want another crack at me?
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
#JimboJones What's easier to be aware of is 'environmental stress'. This includes pollution and degradation of oceans/waterways and the threat to safe and sustainable seafood. This includes agri-stress; such as the over farming of marginal lands due to population growth and competing interest re bio fuels vs food for humans vs food for stock vs grazing in general. This includes variability of climate and lessons that we have learned regarding human influence. This is the doozy. Some people like you will say "What's with the greenhouse thing? Look at the Ozone guff, we never hear about that any more.....what happened there!!" as a statement rather than question. The reality is that the Ozone layer (high in the atmosphere) is still seasonally depleted however the harmful CFC's were replaced (including with HFCs). The stress on the Ozone layer due to human activities/pollution has waned as a result of direct action to counter it. The precedent is there. That particular (<=a bit of a pun here!!) disaster partially averted. The problem around the 'enhanced Greenhouse effect' is that there's an over focus on CO2. It's a whole range of factors. 4Corners earlier this week was worth a look. Anyway - the 'Greenhouse' effect is a natural and vital aspect of the earth and it's climates. How much are you betting that unlike the Ozone layer - that humans aren't dangerously impacting the 'balance'?? Try googling "Climate change and the insurance industry".....and work out as a gambling man just how you yourself will play the odds!!
elvis
Roar Rookie
Your argument conflates a pile of different things together that make no sense. If I had to decide for or against climate change based on your advocacy, I would be 50 50