NRL 2020: Craig Fitzgibbon to stay at the Sydney Roosters
Even if Craig Fitzgibbon was offered the greatest job in the world, he wouldn’t budge. As numerous teams have found out in recent times, his dedication and loyalty to the Roosters cause is unbreakable.
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Sydney Roosters assistant coach and club legend Craig Fitzgibbon is such a rare commodity in modern-day rugby league. Loyalty and his honour is worth more than any amount of money.
He is old school where a handshake is a handshake and a contract is a contract.
It is why the former Clive Churchill Medal winner has absolutely no interest right now in a head-coaching role, despite his name being thrown up at every struggling NRL club.
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Fitzgibbon has coached under Trent Robinson for eight years at the Roosters and is under contract until the end of next season.
“I’m very fortunate to have worked for Robbo and Nick (Politis),” he said.
“I shook hands, looked them in the eye and said I’ll be there for the next couple of years.
“That’s the end of it as far as I’m concerned.
“I’ve told my manager (David Riolo) that if anything came up, I’m not in a position to do anything for a couple of years. It’s disrespectful to the Roosters to be even talking about it.”
As a player and coach, Fitzgibbon has been at the club for 20 years.
His name has been linked to Canterbury, New Zealand, St George Illawarra and Cronulla in recent times yet he insists nothing will change, even if a great opportunity comes up at the end of the season.
“It wouldn’t matter where it is,” he said.
“It’s been flattering to be mentioned but there will be other jobs in a couple of years.
“I’m not scared of head coaching but I’m scared of leaving the Roosters because I’ve made so many great friendships and I’m so close to everyone. I also want to be part of another premiership.”
Robinson has no doubts Fitzgibbon will eventually make a successful head coach.
“He’s a great coach,” Robinson said.
“He’s very technical and tactical.
“He cares about the game and really studies it.
“He’s honest and hard but very funny, too. It’s a good balance.
“He knows he’s good enough to be a head coach but he absolutely loves the Roosters and he values loyalty ahead of his ego.
“Whether it’s as a head coach or a rep coaching role, Fitz is ready.”
Robinson and Fitzgibbon are as tight as any coaching combination in the game.
“It’s more than a working relationship … we’re really good mates,” Robinson said.
“We’ve grown up together in coaching and really tried to push each other to keep developing.
“He values loyalty, friendship and club he works for. He gave his word and that means a lot.”
It is why Roosters supremo Nick Politis is his biggest supporter.
In the same position last year, assistant coach Adam O’Brien quit the Roosters to take Nathan Brown’s job at the Newcastle Knights.
“Loyalty with coaches is rare in today’s game,” Politis said.
“He’s been such a great clubman and he’s been a very important part of what we’ve achieved in recent years.”