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7 months ago
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The war of words between 'parasite' journalist Peter FitzSimons and footy identity James Graham has continued - with the veteran scribe standing by his comments surrounding concussion in sport.
Earlier this week - Graham - who has previously stated he was concussed at least 100 times in his rugby league career - labelled his bitter rival a 'parasite' after FitzSimons called for Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco to retire following another head knock.
On Saturday, FitzSimons responded to Graham's attack by reinforcing his opinion, adamant his primary aim is to make contact sports such as rugby league safer in the long term.
'I write something based on concussion in sport, saying it's serious and not to be trifled with,' FitzSimons wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald.
'The footballers [Graham] rant back that these are their brains, and they'll damage them as much as they like.
The war of words between 'parasite' journalist Peter FitzSimons and footy identity James Graham has continued - with the veteran scribe standing by his comments surrounding concussion in sport
Earlier this week James Graham labelled his bitter rival a 'parasite' after Peter FitzSimons called for Roosters captain James Tedesco to retire following another head knock
James Graham (pictured, playing for the Dragons) has previously stated he was concussed at least 100 times in his rugby league career and fears he has CTE in his brain which can only be diagnosed after death
'What his [Graham's] overall position is on concussion, I have no clue.
'Certainly, he was originally the exemplar of saying it was all nothing [during his career]. But then, after retirement, he suddenly shifted to saying it was serious after all.'
FitzSimons - a former Wallaby before carving out a career in the media - wasn't finished yet, addressing Graham labelling him a 'parasite' on his The Bye Round podcast.
'As a parasite I must be a very small one, and a pretty irrelevant one, as writing on concussion these days – as serious as I am on it – would be no more than half-of-one per cent of my output, if that,' he said.
'Tedesco had three concussions in his first decade of playing. He's had seven in the past three years. That may not alarm James Graham, but it seriously alarms the concussion specialists I have consulted.
'All those who sounded the alarm bells on this issue [concussion] have been proven definitively right....while all those who decried and denied it can have it on their conscience forever more.
'I think he [Graham] is working somewhere as a commentator [Triple M] of some sort but, also very sadly, he only seems to make headlines when ranting on concussion....and usually at me.
When Peter FitzSimons wrote it was time for Roosters captain James Tedesco to hang up his boots after he was knocked out (pictured) against the Bulldogs, James Graham didn't hold back on his The Bye Round podcast
'This will no doubt generate another rant from James. So be it. It will at least help keep him relevant as a commentator, I guess.
'What I genuinely feel [for Graham] is pity, mixed with rising concern at his ever-more erratic nature.
'Personally, if I was to hang my journalistic hat on any of the work I have done over the years, it’s pushing ahead on the issue of concussion of which I’m most proud.'
FitzSimons also pointed to the likes of Mario Fenech and Steve Mortimer, with the former rugby league gladiators now battling serious health issues 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 stating he was willing to 'accept' the risk of head knocks as part and parcel of professional rugby league.
In 2022, Graham then accused FitzSimons of ambushing him and putting him on show at a concussion seminar.
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