Raiders' new cheerleading squad, the Emeralds, adopt more modest look

The boy-leg-cut jumpsuits will be worn with tights by the 18 squad members, five of whom were members of the former Raiderettes.

The squad's co-ordinator, Melissa Gelonese, said there had been an effort to move away from the traditional cheerleader look.

''There's no cleavage, no midriff,'' she said, adding that the women would arrive at games in a corporate-style suit.

''So the whole image has changed, and I know the girls are feeling elevated and very different about the whole thing - a bit of high esteem.''

Mrs Gelonese said there would usually be 12 cheerleaders on the field but 15 would perform for the debut appearance at half-time on Sunday night, when the Raiders take on the Gold Coast Titans.

She said instead of sitting on the sidelines during the game, the Emeralds would interact with the crowd and join in any try-time celebrations, ''rather than sitting there being jeered at and leered at. I don't agree with that.''

Mrs Gelonese said there had been a conscious move to update the cheerleaders' routines, making them a genuine dance performance and trying to deflect any sniping about sexism.

''I've got a school teaching background. I'm not involved in anything that is counteractive to any positive role models and image of women. I've also got a little girl and I'm really careful about role models,'' she said.

''Dance is performance. The girls are characters when they're performing. And when they're off field, they're friendly representatives of the club.''

The majority of the dancers are from Canberra. ''There's only one or two reserves I'll ever use from Sydney,'' she said.

The Emeralds' three junior squads will be introduced after the Easter break. They will comprise about 20 members in total, ranging in age from about five years old to teenagers.

''They'll be doing the on-field cheering as well,'' Mrs Gelonese said.