Cheerleaders for the Canberra Raiders are "heartbroken" by the decision to stop using their cheer squad for home games in 2017 and instead run a community competition for local dance schools, but the club has denied the move was due to negative perceptions of cheerleading.

When the NRL season resumes, the club will run a competition for local dance schools on game days in place of its cheer squad the Emeralds.

Melissa Gelonese from Rogue Dolls Australia, which runs the Emeralds, said the squad was disappointed by the decision.

"They're heartbroken, because you have to understand that they're also big Raiders fans, and their heart and soul is in that place," she said.

"The girls have really been behind, as corporate ambassadors, some really big charities in Canberra.

"In terms of [the Raiders'] decision, I actually think it's a great idea, but more so as an addition to the cheer squad and not to replace the cheer squad."

Russell Crowe moved first at Rabbitohs

About 10 years ago South Sydney Rabbitohs co-owner Russell Crowe moved to replace his club's cheerleaders with drummers to appease spectators who were "uncomfortable" with scantily-clad female dancers.

But the Raiders said its decision was not made for similar reasons.

"This is not about the cheerleaders. It's about a point of difference," Canberra's commercial boss Jason Mathie told Fairfax Media.

Catherine Lumby, who works with the NRL to improve off-field culture, said cheerleading still had a place in modern football.

She argued a larger problem was attitudes towards cheerleaders.

"If you go to see the ballet, you see ... women in tiny tutus and tight leotards and no-one has a problem with that," she said.

"But when you see women who are more voluptuous dancing in skimpy costumes as well, with pom poms, then there's automatically this idea that those women are bimbos."

Ms Gelonese also rejected the notion that cheerleading was inappropriate at NRL games.

"There's a massive perception problem with Canberra people when it comes to cheerleading," she said.

"At the end of the day the girls are going out there and it's a sport, and it's art.

"The perception that it's anything else is completely inaccurate."

Each of the schools involved in the new competition will be given a $500 donation for performing, and Mr Mathie said the move would open up game days to younger fans.

ABC/AAP