Denis Fitzgerald
Encyclopedia
Denis William Fitzgerald, OAM
, (born 1949) is an Australian former rugby league
footballer and former Chief Executive Officer of the Parramatta Eels
.
As a player, Fitzgerald played mainly as a prop but was atypically tall and lean for his position. Though a strong scrummager and a tireless defender Fitzgerald preferred to run wide where he could be a dangerous attacking force. Remarkably he was Parramatta's leading pointscorer in 1974 from nine tries alone - proof of their weakness in goalkicking.
Fitzgerald first played first grade in 1970 and the following year his finely-contrasted partnership with Bob O'Reilly
saw them rise from last to the final four. Fitzgerald was rewarded with selection for New South Wales. In the following years, however, the Eels returned to the bottom of the table and Fitzgerald's form was erratic, but during the Eels' surge to the finals late in 1975 his form was too good for the international selectors to ignore. After returning to the New South Wales side earlier, Fitzgerald played in the World Cup that year and again in 1977. He had been a major force in the Eels' rise to the grand final in 1976 and the minor premiership in 1977, but was out of form by finals time and played only on the bench in the two 1977 grand finals. After that year, though only 27, he retired as a player.
Even while a prominent player, Fitzgerald had shown great interest in working in club administration. In 1973 he had led a reform group at the then-troubled club, and after retiring as a player he became CEO immediately. Fitzgerald's work as an administrator is credited with building up the "golden years" of the early to middle 1980s, and he was an original member of the NSWRL Board
from 1983 until a crisis in 1992. After a lean period beginning in 1987 he came under threat, notably from Ray Price. However, Fitzgerald's skill as a businessman was so well-honed that he could push aside this challenge, and when success returned in 1997 his position once again became solid. In 2003 he became one of the few rugby league players to receive the Order of Australia medal.
As a vigorous opponent of Super League
, Fitzgerald has become known for a number of prominent opinions about other football clubs including:
In 2007 Melbourne Storm
defeated Parramatta in the grand final qualifier, drawing a larger crowd than the preliminary final held in Sydney. Fitzgerald is critical of the preferential treatment given to the Storm by television
in recent years.
In 2008 Dennis Fitzgerald was widely criticised for his views on reducing the NRL salary cap. Australian and New South Wales representative Willie Mason
was quoted, "It's the stupidest comment I've ever heard". Other media agencies have reported that if such a move was implemented at the Parramatta Eels, a player revolt would be likely.
Midway through the 2009 NRL season the trouble Parramatta Eels club removed Fitzgerald, then the longest-serving club CEO in the competition's history, replacing him with Paul Osborne
.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, (born 1949) is an Australian former rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer and former Chief Executive Officer of the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
.
As a player, Fitzgerald played mainly as a prop but was atypically tall and lean for his position. Though a strong scrummager and a tireless defender Fitzgerald preferred to run wide where he could be a dangerous attacking force. Remarkably he was Parramatta's leading pointscorer in 1974 from nine tries alone - proof of their weakness in goalkicking.
Fitzgerald first played first grade in 1970 and the following year his finely-contrasted partnership with Bob O'Reilly
Bob O'Reilly
Bob O'Reilly is an Australian former rugby league footballer. A prop forward, he played in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership from the 1960s to the 1980s, mainly for the Parramatta Eels, but also for the Eastern Suburbs Roosters and Penrith Panthers...
saw them rise from last to the final four. Fitzgerald was rewarded with selection for New South Wales. In the following years, however, the Eels returned to the bottom of the table and Fitzgerald's form was erratic, but during the Eels' surge to the finals late in 1975 his form was too good for the international selectors to ignore. After returning to the New South Wales side earlier, Fitzgerald played in the World Cup that year and again in 1977. He had been a major force in the Eels' rise to the grand final in 1976 and the minor premiership in 1977, but was out of form by finals time and played only on the bench in the two 1977 grand finals. After that year, though only 27, he retired as a player.
Even while a prominent player, Fitzgerald had shown great interest in working in club administration. In 1973 he had led a reform group at the then-troubled club, and after retiring as a player he became CEO immediately. Fitzgerald's work as an administrator is credited with building up the "golden years" of the early to middle 1980s, and he was an original member of the NSWRL Board
New South Wales Rugby League
The New South Wales Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League until 1984 when forward thinking marketing managers decided...
from 1983 until a crisis in 1992. After a lean period beginning in 1987 he came under threat, notably from Ray Price. However, Fitzgerald's skill as a businessman was so well-honed that he could push aside this challenge, and when success returned in 1997 his position once again became solid. In 2003 he became one of the few rugby league players to receive the Order of Australia medal.
As a vigorous opponent of Super League
Super League (Australia)
Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australasia for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to...
, Fitzgerald has become known for a number of prominent opinions about other football clubs including:
- criticising the joint merger between the Western Suburbs MagpiesWestern Suburbs MagpiesThe Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
and the Balmain TigersBalmain TigersThe Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
into the West Tigers in 2000 - trying to get a Super 12 rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club established in western SydneySydneySydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... - declaring that rugby leagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
football had no place in MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
after the Storm'sMelbourne StormThe Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
record-breaking 2007 season - refusing to honour Ray Price for his services to the Eels
In 2007 Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
defeated Parramatta in the grand final qualifier, drawing a larger crowd than the preliminary final held in Sydney. Fitzgerald is critical of the preferential treatment given to the Storm by television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
in recent years.
In 2008 Dennis Fitzgerald was widely criticised for his views on reducing the NRL salary cap. Australian and New South Wales representative Willie Mason
Willie Mason
William Marshall "Willie" Mason is an Australian professional rugby union footballer for Toulon in the Top 14 competition, having previously being a rugby league footballer for Hull KR in the European Super League.Mason signed a 3-year contract with Hull KR in September 2010, pending a successful...
was quoted, "It's the stupidest comment I've ever heard". Other media agencies have reported that if such a move was implemented at the Parramatta Eels, a player revolt would be likely.
Midway through the 2009 NRL season the trouble Parramatta Eels club removed Fitzgerald, then the longest-serving club CEO in the competition's history, replacing him with Paul Osborne
Paul Osborne
Paul Osborne is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer, administrator and politician. He played first-grade rugby league for the St George Dragons and Canberra Raiders before serving as a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly from 1995 until 2001...
.