Craig Fitzgibbon

Craig Fitzgibbon

Personal information
Born	(1977-06-16) 16 June 1977 (age 39) Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height	191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	104 kg (16 st 5 lb)
Position	Second-row, Lock, Prop
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1998 Illawarra Steelers 20 2 38 0 84 1999 St. George Illawarra Dragons 15 4 25 0 66 2000–09 Sydney Roosters 228 36 655 0 1454 2010–11 Hull F.C. 44 9 9 0 54 Total 307 51 727 0 1658 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2001–08 NSW Country 5 0 5 0 10 2002–08 Australia 19 3 50 0 112 2003–08 New South Wales 11 1 20 0 44 2011 Exiles 1 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Representative Years Team Gms W D L W% 2016– NSW Country 1 0 0 1 0
Source: NRL Stats

Craig Fitzgibbon (born 16 June 1977) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australia national representative goal-kicking forward, he played in the National Rugby League for the Illawarra Steelers and St. George Illawarra Dragons as well as for the Sydney Roosters, with whom he won the 2002 NRL Premiership. Fitzgibbon then played in Europe's Super League for Hull F.C.. He is currently the coach of the Country New South Wales rugby league team.

The son of former rugby league player and coach Allan Fitzgibbon, Craig Fitzgibbon played his first game of junior football with the Dapto under-9Bs. His heroes as a child were Gavin Miller, Bradley Clyde and Andrew Ettingshausen.

Fitzgibbon began his playing career for the Illawarra Steelers in 1998. In his first season, he was the Steelers' top point-scorer and was named rookie of the year. Following the Steelers' merger with St. George Dragons, he played for the merged club St. George Illawarra Dragons. Fitzgibbon played from the bench in the 1999 NRL Grand Final, scoring the first try in the Dragons' 20–18 loss.

Fitzgibbon subsequently transferred to the Roosters in 2000. He played at second-row forward and scored a try in the Roosters' 2000 NRL Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Broncos. Eventually, Fitzgibbon won a premiership with the Roosters, playing at second-row forward in their 2002 NRL grand final victory over the New Zealand Warriors and winning the Clive Churchill Medal for his best-on-ground performance. Having won the 2002 NRL Premiership, the Roosters travelled to England to play the 2003 World Club Challenge against Super League champions, St Helens R.F.C.. Fitzgibbon played at second-row forward, scoring a try and kicking nine goals in Sydney's victory. In the 2003 NRL grand final Fitzgibbon played in the second row and was the Roosters' goal-kicker in their loss to the Penrith Panthers. After that he was selected to go on the 2003 Kangaroo tour. Fitzgibbon played for the Roosters at second-row forward in their 2004 NRL grand final loss to cross-Sydney rivals, the Bulldogs. Fitzgibbon was selected in the Australian team to go and compete in the end of season 2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament. In the final against Great Britain he played from the interchange bench and kicked two goals in the Kangaroos' 44–4 victory.