Craig Fitzgibbon’s illustrious career cannot be questioned. A decorated career of 307 first grade games (including 47 at Hull in Super League), 11 appearances for the Blues and 19 for the Kangaroos.
As a Queenslander, I was never concerned when he was selected for the Blues. As a Kangaroos fan, I was always disappointed when he was.
I am not here to bag Craig Fitzgibbon, he was an honest player and always seemed like a decent bloke to me. I want to discuss the impact he and players like him have had on our great game.
I am sitting in my lounge room today watching a replay of State of Origin 3, 1998. Looking at the teams prior to the start of the match. New South Wales are stacked with stars such as the Johns brothers, Brad Fittler, Laurie Daley, Tim Brasher and Dave Furner. Queensland themselves have a strong team with Darren Lockyer, Allan Langer, Kevin Walters, Gorden Tallis and Shane Webcke.
As the game unfolds I compare it to the game of today. The brilliant interchange of passing in the game is obvious. Brilliant pieces of play between the Johns brothers, Daley, Fitler, with Jim Dymock and Furner offloading on the edges (albeit Dymock actually played a lot of the game at hooker, even though named at lock).
Queensland equally have an impressive number of ball players in their team. Lockyer, Langer, Walters, Ben Ikin and Jason Smith all combine well with several barnstorming runs and offloads from Tallis and Tonie Carroll.
I think about all the NRL games I’ve watched over the last few years, the ruck it up and kick it to the corner mentality.
The sheer number of talented ball players in both of these teams amazed me. The pure footballing brains and talent on display on both sides of the stripe were obvious.
Fast forward to 2016 and the Blues creative players who can ball play include Matt Moylan (a stretch) and James Maloney. At an even further stretch, there’s Wade Graham.
The 2016 Maroons have Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cam Smith as their ball players.
What has changed? Why aren’t teams littered with intelligent players who have the ability to ball play? Why is the game not like this any more?
I give you my theory – the Fitzgibbon effect.
In 1998 Craig Fitzgibbon makes his debut, making the first of many representative appearances in 2001 and winning the Clive Churchill in 2002. At this point in time, he was one of the best backrowers in the game, according to many.
Fitzgibbon had no ball-playing ability. He had no flair, no excitement and as a footballer he was one of the most boring I’ve seen. I say boring, many others say reliable or consistent, and he was both of those. He was the perfect clubman. He was a slightly better but more even boring version of Alan Tongue.
Fitzgibbon was the mould of player every coach wanted and needed in their team. Over the last ten or so years we have seen a growing need for backrowers to play 80 minutes, to minimise their mistakes, to make 40+ tackles a game. Backrowers can now play in the centres, or even play prop with little difference to their performances or their style of play.
We have wingers (obviously they are not real footballers) who can even slot into the backrow position with relative ease if they have enough size.
Our footballers across the park have become Fitzgibbons. Predictable, boring, statistic driven clones of each other.
Lockyer changed the way fullbacks needed to play. Fullbacks are probably the most complete players in the modern game, but across the rest of the park the players have become sterile and predictable.
Remember when a 33-year-old Jason Smith returned to the NRL in 2005-06 and Queensland were begging him to pull on a maroons jersey? Why were they? Remember his ball playing at the line? His vision? He was a sensation to watch and one of the few players who no longer fit the Fitzgibbon mould.
Look across the NRL today and the athleticism has increased immensely, the structures have improved, the statistical analysis has gone through the roof. All of these improvements at the expense of developing actual footballers. We now have athletes who pretend to be footballers.
Let’s have a look at the likely candidates in the backrow for the Blues this year? Boyd Cordner, Trent Merrin, Graham, Ty Frizell and Josh Jackson. All fantastic players, but all in the post-Fitzibbon era mould. Not a heap of skill or talent there, but all capable of playing big minutes, few errors and able to play disciplined football.
For the Maroons it will most likely be Josh Papali, Matt Gillet, Sam Thaiday, Aidan Guerra and Gavin Cooper. Again, all fantastic players but again all are in the post-Fitzgibbon era mould.
We won’t see a Fittler, Smith, Johns, Daley or Ikin in the #13 or #3. This would mean there are too many actual football players and not enough tackling/hit-up clones in the team.
Craig Fitzgibbon – you were a great player and seem like a decent bloke. But you, and others like you, have killed off proper rugby league.
Paul D
Roar Guru
You could make the same argument about Adam Gilchrist and test wicketkeepers. Nowadays they're picked more for their batting than their glovework.
Britexit
Guest
Fitzgibbons last game wasn't boring . He was really disappointed with his teammates after the game http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/results-fixed-in-betting-swindle/2009/09/25/1253813612017.html September 26, 2009 " The Sydney Roosters are bracing for a police investigation into an alleged betting scam surrounding the rugby league club's last home game of the season. A bitter split has emerged at the eastern suburbs club over the circumstances of the round 26 game between the Roosters and the North Queensland Cowboys at the Sydney Football Stadium. Bookmakers suspended betting three times before the game after a splurge of bets backed the Cowboys to win by more than 13 points. Extraordinarily, there was little interest in a straight Cowboys win. The Herald is aware of one punter who outlaid $1500 after hearing, through Roosters associates, that a 13-point-plus loss was "a sure thing". He cashed in after the Roosters surrendered a 16-0 half-time lead to lose 32-16. In the weeks since the September 6 game, players have been pointing fingers at each other and ostracising some teammates. They are furious that a small group of Roosters "celebrated" the loss by visiting a brothel and enjoying the free services of prostitutes. One player openly accused a teammate of getting some kind of kickback. "I'm aware that several of the players have been up there [to the brothel] on a weekly basis throughout the year. "On occasions they are receiving free services. I don't know why or how that works. Why you would want to involve yourself in those types of circles when you are a professional sportsman, I do not know." The player told the Herald he was stunned by claims within the club that results were being manipulated. But on reflection, he noted there was one player "who would do it", adding several others were young and impressionable. "Now, looking back, I can't say that it didn't happen." Questions have been raised about several games but it is the circumstances surrounding the final home game that has everyone talking. On the morning of the match, The Sun-Herald revealed that the nation's biggest sports agency, TAB Sportsbet, had suspended betting because of the weight of money on the Cowboys winning by more than 13 points." The Roosters nor the NRL never took court action over this article!!!!!
peeeko
Guest
obviously you have no idea
peeeko
Guest
no, he was coached to play a certain way. he had plenty of skill.
Eden
Guest
The problem is that most the ball playing types you name would be completely stifled by Fitzgibbon types, who are much cheaper and easier to find. So why wouldn't the coach or player go for it? Rugby league needs better coaches to evolve into its next phase. I'd also argue the salary cap means every team is equal enough to act the same and seek cheap reliable mono forwards...i would prefer more market forces, but that's a different story.
Steve
Guest
This is the point of the article isn't it? He was the perfect player for coaches, so perfect that they are now all clones of him.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Have you ever watched Wade Graham play? Or Trent Merrin? Actually don't answer that. I already know the answer.
qwetzen
Guest
He was a great run of the mill player. Anyway, I agree with Londoner. The Bash It Up For Five And Then Kick, a la 'The power game' is killing the true skills of League. Make tries scored from kicks worth two I say.
jeff dustby
Guest
run of the mill - he was a great player
jacksyd
Guest
Fitzgibbon was no immortal and was one of many run of the mill players like him at the time. What is ruining the NRL is the continuation of poor management and the woeful referees right now.
Brando Connor
Guest
Nice work James. Though you are being a bit harsh on Fitzgibbon for being one of the best exponents of what coaches are asking of the players. And that is if you have 13 players being daring and creative you are likely to have 12 players out of position. So if instead we have teams made up of a couple of creatives backed up by a couple finishers, and a whole lot of Mr Reliables. Which means you probably score fewer points, but you let a whole lot less points through, which is a more reliable way to win.
critta
Guest
I note you are a new author. Stick to your old job. You have no idea and to single out Craig Fitzgibbon as "ruining" rugby league is laughable. That statement is the most STUPID comment I have ever heard. Garbage article targeting a great player.
Londoner
Guest
Agree that NRL has too much formulaic athlete based 5 drives and a kick rugby. I prefer Super league as despite the overall lower standard its generally far more exciting to watch.
peeeko
Guest
i would blame coaches and their no frills and mistakes coaching methods rather than a great like Craig Fitzy
Jeff Dustby
Guest
Gee, why single a single player out when it's the way players are coached? You are way way off the mark in describing both Fitz and Merrin Jackson and graham as lacking ball playing talent Even more of the mark is using Ikin as a past great ball playing 13