Canberra's rugby league clubs face more fines, and match bans, if they continue to sing expletive-laden victory songs, after a directive issued by the Country Rugby League this week.
The Queanbeyan Kangaroos were fined $1000 after their reserve grade team sang an offensive victory song in front of spectators at Goulburn last weekend. Captain-coach Peter Hunt was suspended for the rest of the finals for leading the chant.
The Roos have submitted lyrics to a new "G-rated" victory song to the CRL for approval before Sunday's major semi-final against cross-town rivals the Queanbeyan Blues. The Blues, who had been using an almost identical song to the Roos, have warned their players not to sing at all if they win.
The CRL sent an email this week to all competitions under its jurisdiction, warning "severe penalties" would be imposed on teams who use offensive songs.
The Roos song contained sexual references and it is understood other clubs in the Canberra Raiders Cup use similarly offensive songs.
CRL boss Terry Quinn issued a warning to teams to clean up their victory acts.
"We have had reports of clubs allowing teams to sing their team song in a public area with foul and derogatory language," Quinn wrote in an email to clubs.
"If teams wish to sing a team song post-match, it must not contain foul and derogatory language, and must be sung in the change rooms.
"Teams failing to follow this directive will have severe penalties imposed on them, which could cost positions in finals series.
"We take this opportunity to remind all clubs of the code of conduct – and that the CRL expects women and all supporters to be respected across the game."
Quinn said he was disappointed ground management did not take immediate action against the Roos last weekend.
"We've got to show respect for our women and children and I just think it shows no respect at all," he said.
"I said to the [Kangaroos] president 'these are grown men, they're not little kids'.
"Surely somewhere in their head they could have gone 'we can't do it here.'"
Canberra Region Rugby League boss Karen Ebsworth said the game was taking positive steps to ensure everyone felt comfortable at games.
"Rugby league definitely is moving away from the days when that sort of thing was an accepted part of the game," Ebsworth said.
"We've got people from all walks of life [involved], and trying to make a place for everyone.
"I don't think we'll ever get rid of it completely, but most clubs are quite willing to co-operate and get their teams to sing songs which could be sung in public."
Kangaroos football club president Leigh Kiely said the outfit planned to appeal Hunt's punishment, but are unlikely to appeal the $1000 fine. His next challenge is to convince his players to sing the new song.
"We'll burn it [song] take a CD player and probably a song list, and try and tell 20 footballers, if we win, to sing it," he said.
The Blues have decided to scrap their team song, which is very similar to the Roos', and secretary Tom Ebsworth agreed it was time for the code to move with the times.
"It [the song] is canned. At this stage, we don't have a team song and we'll work on that over the off-season," he said.
"I hope we're in the mood to sing, but no matter the result we won't be singing it.
"It's not appropriate. Leigh disagrees with the song and I'm right with him. That era has been and gone, we've got to move on."
SUNDAY
Canberra Raiders Cup major semi: Queanbeyan Blues v Queanbeyan Kangaroos at Seiffert Oval, 3pm
QUEANBEYAN KANGAROOS' NEW SONG
I know who and what I am
I'm a mighty Roos man
We play hard and we play fast
Winning is our only task
This year's gonna be our year
That's when you hear our fans cheer
We wear the kangaroo with pride
We fight to go in for a try
Roos are you are you ready ready
(yes we are ready ready)
Roos are you ready ready
(yes we are ready ready)
Ooh ah ooh ah
Queanbeyan Kangaroos x 3
