Peter FitzSimons hits back at colleague who smashed him in blistering public attack – and takes a stunning shot at his own newspaper
Journalist and anti-concussion crusader Peter FitzSimons has responded to a colleague who mocked him in a stunning public spray last week by saying he is shocked the column was published by the newspaper they both work on.
FitzSimons’ Sydney Morning Herald Colleague Andrew Webster lashed out at his colleague last Friday in an indisputable piece.
Webster said FitzSimons wrote a “condescending” and “personal” column responding to his story warning the NRL not to overreact to calls to ban kickoffs after Dragons star Moses Suli was knocked out cold in the Anzac Day match against the Sydney Roosters.
βIt’s too much,β Webster wrote. ‘Rugby League people are getting tired of being positioned as outrageous bogans who don’t care about their own country.’
FitzSimons (pictured with wife Lisa Wilkinson) has hit back at a colleague who attacked him in a public spray – and also had some nice words for the newspaper they both work for
Journalist Andrew Webster (pictured) called his colleague FitzSimons ‘condescending’ and told him to stop treating NRL fans like ‘outrageous bogans’
On Thursday, FitzSimons announced that he was deeply shocked by Webster’s words β and that he was allowed to publish them at all.
βIn my 38 years at this beloved newspaper, I cannot recall any such criticism being published from one colleague to another β just occasional clashing columns where we had differing views on ideas,β the former Wallabies wrote -star.
FitzSimons then explained that he admires Webster both as a writer and as a man, emphasizing that the only disagreement he has with him is on the topic of concussions.
The 62-year-old stood his ground on the issue, saying he is opposed to the NRL retaining long kickoffs because they “often result in men the size of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves running at full speed against three huge men who running at full speed. the other way’.
He added that concussion experts would back him on the issue, explaining that “there is a moral and legal obligation for the NRL to amend the rules in exactly the same way as the NFL” after the US competition had drastically changed the kick-off to improve the rules. players have become safer lately.
Fitzsimons believes the NRL cannot be counted on to make changes on its own.
FitzSimons called for Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco to retire after suffering concussion against the Bulldogs this year (pictured)
Webster (pictured) said he felt he had to ‘fight back’ against the ex-Wallabies star over his repeated attacks on the NRL over the head-butting issue
βIn no commercial sports organization in the world, in history, has this been the case,β he wrote.
‘Every step forward is the result of legal, medical and public pressure. I am proud to be able to strengthen the positions of the first two and substantiate the opinion of the third.’
In his column, Webster wrote that the NRL must abandon “cosmetic changes” such as calls to ban kickoffs and get serious about tackling techniques to prevent incidents like Suli, starting at junior football level.
FitzSimons then responded in his column, quoting “one of the world’s leading concussion advocates” in Dr. Chris Nowinski.
He pointed to changes in rugby union and the NFL that had not eroded the structure of those competitions, and said major changes also needed to be made in the NRL.
Newcastle captain Kalyn Ponga (pictured being taken off the ground after a collision) is another NRL player who has had major problems with head impacts
Dragons star Moses Suli was knocked out cold in the first game of the Anzac Day clash against the Sydney Roosters – with the incident helping to spark the feud between the two Sydney Morning Herald columnists
βSo, where do you draw the line when it comes to making the game safer? βI will draw the line at brain health and not insist on keeping a small part of the game that causes harm,β he wrote.
“The game has a legal and moral obligation to sort this stuff out.”
That was enough for Webster, who fired up FitzSimons for the way he has framed his ongoing crusade against concussions in sports.
βWhen colleague Peter FitzSimons writes a piece as condescending and personal as the one published online by the Herald on Thursday, you have to fight,β he wrote.
‘FitzSimons took exception to my column on Monday about the debate going on in the NRL over kick-offs and how they should be banned to prevent concussion.
βAs his old colleague, it hurt, but it wasn’t surprising. He does these things to most people who present him with an opposing or slightly different attitude toward concussion.
Champion NRL player and coach Paul Green took his own life in 2022 – and it was then discovered he was suffering from the devastating effects of CTE
‘He’s been ruthless. He lectures players, most recently Roosters captain James Tedesco, about their retirement. He has vilified clubs, coaches and commentators.
‘His continued criticism of former Bulldogs captain James Graham, who has spoken openly about his own concussion problems in a well-meaning podcast with The Australian, has become annoying.
‘It is too much. Rugby league people are getting tired of being positioned as outrageous bogans who don’t care about their own interests.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted FitzSimons for comment.
James Graham, who admitted to feeling the impact of numerous concussions during his playing days, has repeatedly clashed with bitter rival FitzSimons
Earlier this month, FitzSimons also reignited his feud with James Graham after the former footy star turned commentator recently called him a ‘parasite’.
The high-profile pair have been feuding for years – they first clashed in 2019 when the Fairfax writer quizzed the retired prop and said he was willing to ‘accept’ the risk of head-butting as part of professional rugby league.
In 2022, Graham then accused FitzSimons of ambushing him and showing him off at a concussion seminar.
In recent weeks they have clashed repeatedly over concussion in the sport, with Graham furious after FitzSimons called for Roosters captain James Tedesco to retire after being knocked out in a match against the Bulldogs.
FitzSimons wrote that Tedesco had suffered ten concussions, which he called “brain damage,” and slammed the Roosters for saying he was “fine” afterward.
‘This kind of behavior [from FitzSimons] uses our game and the very serious issue of concussions to stay alive,β Graham said.