Tweed_Tiger
Well-known member
https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/nrl-team-songs-dressing-rooms/1uuuwpnxj6bo115jdc3f8phgsh
The NRL has been warned it needs to vet team songs before they go live to air or risk severe embarrassment and backlash from fans and sponsors.
For the first time, host broadcasters this season will be allowed to shoot live pictures and audio of teams singing their victory songs inside winning dressing-rooms within 25 minutes of fulltime.
It's been a long-held tradition in the AFL, but league fans have had to settle for muted pictures from a mounted dressing-room camera or wait for their club to post songs on social media or websites.
But according to former Manly official and **Sporting News** league expert Peter Peters, the NRL may be in for a rude shock this season given the lyrics of some team songs.
"I tell you where trouble is brewing and it's a worry (for the NRL)," Zorba told *Sky Sports Radio* .
"I think the decision to allow the cameras in to film the team songs is fraught with danger simply because I don't think the NRL knows what is in some of the songs.
"Verses that were okay 50 years ago are unacceptable today.
"I know the Manly song would cause angst and embarrassment.
"It includes 'we'll guzzle, guzzle, guzzle as we pour it down our muzzle and we'll drink all night in the shade of the Manly Leagues Club'.
"That sort of stuff would send shivers through sponsors."
While clubs like Cronulla and Dragons have pretty much stuck to their traditional victory songs, other clubs have strayed from the official team song or added to - or re-worded - lyrics.
Peters has urged the NRL to listen to all 16 victory songs to ensure they are not left nursing another PR disaster.
"Clubs would be wary about changing a 70-year tradition (in Manly's case), but can you imagine in this current climate what they'd (critics) do with that?" he said.
"There has to be changes - I understand that - but I hope it's all done before we start this.
"I just don't know if the league has gone into it enough. They should have the words to every song and go through and issues changes.
"It's a shame but that's life. We can't afford to have something like this come out.
The NRL has been warned it needs to vet team songs before they go live to air or risk severe embarrassment and backlash from fans and sponsors.
For the first time, host broadcasters this season will be allowed to shoot live pictures and audio of teams singing their victory songs inside winning dressing-rooms within 25 minutes of fulltime.
It's been a long-held tradition in the AFL, but league fans have had to settle for muted pictures from a mounted dressing-room camera or wait for their club to post songs on social media or websites.
But according to former Manly official and **Sporting News** league expert Peter Peters, the NRL may be in for a rude shock this season given the lyrics of some team songs.
"I tell you where trouble is brewing and it's a worry (for the NRL)," Zorba told *Sky Sports Radio* .
"I think the decision to allow the cameras in to film the team songs is fraught with danger simply because I don't think the NRL knows what is in some of the songs.
"Verses that were okay 50 years ago are unacceptable today.
"I know the Manly song would cause angst and embarrassment.
"It includes 'we'll guzzle, guzzle, guzzle as we pour it down our muzzle and we'll drink all night in the shade of the Manly Leagues Club'.
"That sort of stuff would send shivers through sponsors."
While clubs like Cronulla and Dragons have pretty much stuck to their traditional victory songs, other clubs have strayed from the official team song or added to - or re-worded - lyrics.
Peters has urged the NRL to listen to all 16 victory songs to ensure they are not left nursing another PR disaster.
"Clubs would be wary about changing a 70-year tradition (in Manly's case), but can you imagine in this current climate what they'd (critics) do with that?" he said.
"There has to be changes - I understand that - but I hope it's all done before we start this.
"I just don't know if the league has gone into it enough. They should have the words to every song and go through and issues changes.
"It's a shame but that's life. We can't afford to have something like this come out.
