‘Parasite’ Peter FitzSimons hits back at footy identity James Graham over concussion debate – ‘those who sounded the alarm bells have been proved conclusively right’

The war of words between ‘parasite’ journalist Peter FitzSimons and footy identity James Graham has continued – with the veteran standing by his comments surrounding concussion in sport.

Earlier this week, Graham – who has previously stated that he was concussed at least 100 times in his rugby league career – branded his bitter rival a ‘parasite’ after FitzSimons asked Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco to retire after another head impact.

On Saturday, FitzSimons responded to Graham’s attack by reinforcing his opinion and his primary aim is to make contact sports such as rugby league safer in the long term.

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

‘The football players (Graham) talk back that it’s their brains and they’ll hurt them as much as they want.

Earlier this week, James Graham called his bitter rival a ‘parasite’ after Peter FitzSimons called for Roosters captain James Tedesco to retire after another headbutt

James Graham (pictured, playing for the Dragons) has previously stated that 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 concussions, I have no idea.

“Sure, he was initially the example of saying it was all nothing (during his career). But then, after retirement, he suddenly switched to saying it was serious after all.”

FitzSimons – a former Wallaby before carving out a career in the media – wasn’t done yet, addressing Graham, who branded him a ‘parasite’ on his The Bye Round podcast.

‘As a parasite I must be a very small one, and a rather irrelevant one, since writing about concussion these days – as serious as I am about it – would not be more than half of one percent of my output, if that, he said.

‘Tedesco had three concussions in his first decade of playing. He has had seven in the past three years. That may not worry James Graham, but it seriously alarms the concussion specialists I’ve consulted.

‘All those who have sounded the alarm on this issue (concussion) have been proven conclusively right….while all those who rejected 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 unfortunately he only seems to make headlines when he talks about concussions… and usually after me.

When Peter FitzSimons wrote that it was time for Roosters captain James Tedesco to hang up his boots after being dropped (pictured) against the Bulldogs, James Graham didn’t hold back with his The Bye Round podcast

‘This will no doubt provoke another argument from James. So be it. At least that will help keep him relevant as a commentator, I guess.

‘What I really feel (for Graham) is pity, mixed with increasing concern about his increasingly erratic nature.

“Personally, if I had to hang my journalistic hat on any of the work I’ve done over the years, it’s pushing forward on the concussion issue 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 battling serious health problems decades after retiring from the sport.

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

In 2022, Graham then accused FitzSimons of assaulting him and exhibiting him at a concussion seminar.