NRL star James Graham slams Peter FitzSimons for mugging him at event to help concussion victims and dig up their longtime feud: ‘I was in shock’
- Retired NRL enforcer James Graham said he was mugged by Peter FitzSimons
- Drama unfolded at the launch of the Australian arm of the Concussion Legacy Foundation
- Graham believes FitzSimons used the event to dig up a previous feud from 2019
Former NRL star James Graham has sensationally accused journalist Peter FitzSimons of assaulting him at a concussion seminar in Sydney.
The high-profile couple have a checkered history, with the author previously stating the ex-Bulldogs and Dragons enforcer is a bad role model for children.
talking about his head noise Podcast, Graham revealed was “amazed” by what he believed to be a public ambush by the outspoken reporter as they both spoke at the launch event for the Australian branch of the Concussion Legacy Foundation in Sydney.
In Graham’s eyes, Fitzsimons took it upon himself to question the retired NRL star’s earlier statement: “Maybe the meaning of life for me is to find something worth dying for. Was that rugby league?’
The former Bulldogs star was also stunned when Fitzsimons pressed him about his football role model status during the panel.
‘I was amazed he [FitzSimons] trying to make it about me and him,” Graham said on his podcast.
Former NRL star James Graham has sensationally accused journalist Peter FitzSimons of assaulting him at a concussion seminar in Sydney
The pair have a tense history, with the veteran Fairfax writer previously stating the ex-Bulldogs and Dragons enforcer was a bad role model after reporting concussions in 2019
“Peter wanted to dig up the past. I was shocked.’
Graham said the pair went back and forth at the event to support athletes and families suffering the aftershocks of a concussion – before eventually shaking hands as tensions mounted.
They previously clashed over Graham’s 2019 statement that he was willing to “accept” the risk of headbutts as an integral part of professional rugby league.
“The consequences are that you sometimes get hit in the head,” said the prop master at the time.
“You have to go and play Oztag when you get tired of playing league.”
FitzSimons was taken aback by Graham’s comments, calling the front rower “outrageous”.
He also felt they downplayed the seriousness of the concussion in sports.
“Again and again… I would see you [Graham] knocked motherless [in the NRL] and stay tuned anyway,” FitzSimons wrote.
Graham worries about the long-term effects on his brain due to his rugby league career, which saw him suffer over 100 concussions (pictured playing with the Bulldogs).
On his Head Noise podcast, Graham believes FitzSimons took the opportunity to expose their feud, which began in 2019
“Once you straight out refused to leave the field when a coach told you the coach wants you out, yes?
“That kind of resilience and will to win is one thing. But your comments diminish the whole importance of the concussion problem. Champion, you just don’t get it. Not the first clue.”
An enraged Graham then called FitzSimons about a club statement while he was playing for the Dragons, accusing him of being condescending and also claiming his article had “blatant errors” as the verbal battle intensified.
Graham worries he may have developed CTE – a neurodegenerative disease associated with repeated blows to the head
One of the toughest props to ever play in rugby league, Graham played in 476 games for club and country in a storied career
Graham has since changed his views on concussions, recently stating he will be donating his brain to the Australian Sports Brain Bank to support research.
He estimates he has suffered over 100 concussions over the course of his career and has admitted he struggled “to control his emotions” after retiring.
The hardened striker fears he has chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and has started his own podcast to explore his own mental health concerns.
