Respected footy expert says North Queensland’s women’s NRL team should NOT be called the Cowboys because the name is too male

• Reporter and author Steve Mascord ‘struggles’ with name 
• Has a problem with team’s moniker including ‘boys’ 
• His take drew support and opposition from footy fans 

Respected rugby league journalist Steve Mascord has split footy fans by revealing he ‘struggles’ with the fact North Queensland‘s NRLW team is called the Cowboys because the word is unmistakably male.

The former Sydney Morning Herald footy reporter and author of league books Touchstones and Two Tribes voiced his opinion on X on Tuesday as he responded to a report that the team has named a new head coach.

‘I struggle with the women’s team being called Cowboys,’ Mascord wrote.

‘I know they want to use the same branding but … when the nickname includes “boys”?’