‘Parasite’ Peter FitzSimons fires back at footy identity James Graham surrounding concussion debate – ‘those who sounded the alarm bells have been proven definitively right’

The war of words between ‘parasitic’ journalist Peter FitzSimons and footy identity James Graham has continued – with the veteran writer staying true to his comments on concussion in the sport.

Earlier this week, Graham – who previously stated he had suffered concussions at least 100 times in his rugby league career – branded his bitter rival a ‘parasite’ after FitzSimons called for Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco to retire after a another blow to the head.

On Saturday, FitzSimons responded to Graham’s attack by amplifying his views, saying he was determined to make contact sports such as rugby league safer in the long term.

“I’m writing something based on concussion in sports and saying it’s serious and not to be trifled with,” FitzSimons wrote in the paper Sydney Morning Herald.

‘The football players [Graham] saying that these are their brains, and they will damage them as much as they want.

‘What are [Graham’s] general position is on concussion, I have no idea.

“Certainly, he originally set the example by saying it was all nothing [during his career]. But when he retired, he suddenly started saying that it was serious after all.’

Not done yet, FitzSimons – a former Wallaby before making a career in media – turned to Graham and branded him a ‘parasite’ to his face. The Bye Round podcast.

“As a parasite, I must be a very small one, and a pretty irrelevant one, since writing about concussions these days – no matter how serious I am about it – wouldn’t be more than half a percent of my output if that,” he said.

“Tedesco had three concussions in his first ten years of playing. He’s had seven in the last three years. That may not worry James Graham, but it seriously worries the concussion specialists I consulted.

“To all those who have raised alarm bells in this matter [concussion] have been definitively proven right…while all those who disapproved and denied it can have it on their conscience forever.

‘I think that he [Graham] works as a commentator somewhere [Triple M] somehow, but also very sadly, he only seems to make headlines when he’s ranting about concussions… and usually to me.

“This will no doubt prompt another tirade from James. So it will be. It will at least help him stay relevant as a commentator, I think.

‘What I really feel [for Graham] is pity, mixed with increasing concern about his increasingly erratic character.

“Personally, if I had to hang my journalism hat on the work I’ve done over the years, it’s progress in the concussion field that I’m most proud of.”

FitzSimons also pointed to the likes of Mario Fenech and Steve Mortimer, with the former rugby league gladiators now facing serious health problems decades after retiring from the sport.

Graham and FitzSimons have been feuding for years, with the pair first clashing in 2019, when the long-term Fairfax writer questioned the retired prop, saying he was willing to ‘risk head-butting’ accept’ as part of professional rugby league.

In 2022, Graham then accused FitzSimons of ambushing him and showing him off at a concussion seminar.