Ex-NRL star James Graham slams Peter FitzSimons for ambushing him at concussion event in Sydney

Former NRL star James Graham has sensationally accused journalist Peter FitzSimons of ambushing him at a concussion seminar in Sydney.

The high-profile pair have a chequered history, with the author previously stating the ex-Bulldogs and Dragons enforcer was a poor role model for children. 

Speaking on his Head Noise podcast, Graham revealed was left ‘astonished’ at what he felt was a public ambush from the outspoken reporter as they both spoke at the launch event for the Australian arm of the Concussion Legacy Foundation in Sydney.

In Graham’s eyes, Fitzsimons took it upon himself to challenge the retired NRL star’s previous statement, ‘Maybe for me, the meaning of life was finding something worth dying for. Was that rugby league?’

The former Bulldogs star also was stunned when Fitzsimons pressed him on his status as a footy role model during the panel discussion.

‘I was astonished he [FitzSimons] attempted to make it about me and him,’ Graham said on his podcast.

The pair have a strained history, with the veteran Fairfax scribe previously stating the ex-Bulldogs and Dragons enforcer was a poor role model following comments in 2019 surrounding concussion

‘Peter wanted to dig up the past. I was in shock.’

Graham said the pair went back and forth at the event to support athletes and families suffering the aftershocks of 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 head knocks as part and parcel of professional rugby league.

‘The consequences are sometimes you get hit in the head,’ the prop said at the time.

‘You’ve got to go and play Oztag if you don’t fancy playing league any more.’

FitzSimons was dumbfounded at Graham’s comments, labelling the front-rower ‘outrageous’.

He also felt they downplayed the seriousness of concussion in sport.

‘Time and again…I’d see you [Graham] knocked motherless [in the NRL] and still stay on,’ FitzSimons wrote.

Graham fears the long term impact on his brain stemming from his rugby league career, where he had over 100 concussions (pictured, playing with the Bulldogs)

Speaking on his Head Noise podcast, Graham believes FitzSimons took the opportunity to dig up their feud, which started in 2019

‘One time, you outright refused to leave the field, when a trainer told you the coach wanted you off, yes?

‘That kind of resilience and will to win is one thing. But your comments downgrade the whole importance of the concussion issue. Champion, you just don’t get it. Not the first clue.’

An irate Graham then called out FitzSimons via a club statement while he was playing for the Dragons, accusing him of being condescending and also claiming his article had ‘glaring errors’ as the war of words intensified.

Graham fears he may have developed CTE – a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated blows to the head

One of the toughest props to ever play rugby league, Graham starred in 476 games for club and country in a storied career

Graham has since changed his views on concussion, and recently stated he will donate his brain to the Australian Sports Brain bank to aid research.

He estimates he suffered from over 100 concussions over the course of his career and has admitted he struggled to ‘control his emotions’ after retiring.

The hard-nosed forward fears he has chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and has launched his own podcast to investigate his own concerns about mental health.