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 blasted him in a stunning public spray last week by saying he's shocked that the column was published by the newspaper they both work on.

FitzSimons' Sydney Morning Herald colleague Andrew Webster lashed out at his workmate in a no-holds-barred piece last Friday.

Webster said FitzSimons wrote a 'condescending' and 'personal' column reacting 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 clash against the Sydney Roosters.

'It's too much,' wrote Webster. 'Rugby league people are growing tired of being positioned as out-of-touch bogans who don't care about their own.'

On Thursday, FitzSimons revealed his deep shock over Webster's words - and he fact they were allowed to be published at all.

'In my 38 years at this beloved paper, I don’t recall such criticism from one colleague on another being published – only occasionally clashing columns where we have had divergent views on ideas,' wrote the former Wallabies star.

FitzSimons then went on to explain that he admires Webster as both a writer and a man, insisting that the only difference of opinion he has with him is on the topic of concussion.

The 62-year-old stuck to his guns about the issue, saying he's against the NRL retaining long kick-offs because they 'frequently lead to men the size of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves running full-tilt at three huge men running full-tilt the other way'.

He added that concussion experts would back him up on the topic, explaining that 'there is a moral and legal imperative for the NRL to tweak the rules in exactly the same way that the NFL has' after the American league drastically altered its kickoffs to make players safer recently.

Fitzsimons believes the NRL can't be counted on to make changes on its own. 

'In no commercial sports organisation in the world, in history, has this been the case,' he wrote.

'Each step forward has come from legal, medical and public pressure. I am proud to amplify the views of the first two and help inform the view of the third.'

 In his column, Webster wrote that the NRL should abandon 'cosmetic changes' like calls to ban the kickoff and seriously address tackling technique to prevent incidents like Suli from happening, starting at junior football level.

FitzSimons then responded in his column, quoting 'one of the world’s foremost concussion advocates' in Dr Chris Nowinski.

He pointed to change in rugby union and the NFL that had not eroded at the fabric of those games and said major changes needed to be made in the NRL as well.

'So, just where do you draw the line at making the game safer? I will go with drawing the line at brain health, at not insisting on keeping a minor part of the game that is causing damage being done,' he wrote.

'The game has a legal and moral obligation to sort this stuff.'

That was enough for Webster, who put FitzSimons on blast for how he has framed his ongoing crusade against concussions in sport. 

'When colleague Peter FitzSimons writes a piece as condescending and personal as the one published online by the Herald on Thursday, well, you've got to fight,' he wrote.

'FitzSimons took exception to my column on Monday about the debate kicking around in the NRL concerning the kick-off and how it should be banned to avoid concussions

'As his long-time colleague, it hurt but didn't surprise. He does these things to most people who offer a contrary or slightly different position to him on concussion.

'He has been relentless. He lectures players, most recently Roosters captain James Tedesco, about retiring. He's slammed clubs, coaches, and commentators.

'His constant take-downs of former Bulldogs captain James Graham, who has talked openly about his own concussion issues in a well-meaning podcast with The Australian, have become tedious.

'It's too much. Rugby league people are growing tired of being positioned as out-of-touch bogans who don't care about their own.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted FitzSimons for comment. 

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 scribe 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.

In recent weeks they have repeatedly clashed over concussion in sport, with Graham furious after FitzSimons called for Roosters captain James Tedesco to retire after he was knocked out in a match against the Bulldogs.

FitzSimons wrote that Tedesco had suffered 10 concussions, which he labelled 'brain damage' and slammed the Roosters for saying he was 'fine' afterwards.

'This type of behaviour [from FitzSimons] is using our game and the very serious issue of concussion to stay alive,' Graham said.