Roosters resign Fitzy

[Bgoodorgoodatit]

Fitzgibbon extends contract

By staff writers
July 10, 2008 SYDNEY Roosters captain Craig Fitzgibbon has agreed to terms for an extension of his contract to play with the club until the completion of the 2009 season.
Fitzgibbon joined the Roosters in 1999 and will play his 10th season with the club next year.

The Roosters captain has confirmed he was keen to extend his stay at the club for another season to work with the many young players developing and progressing through the ranks.

"I’m thrilled that I can stay with the Roosters and am looking forward to the remainder of this season and 2009," Fitzgibbon said.

"I’m glad the process is over and done with, it’s been a long process but my heart is with the roosters and I’m delighted to be staying here for another season."

"We are looking forward to a bright future and I want to be part of it with all the young players around at the moment."

The news comes during a big year for Fitzgibbon, who has not only led the Roosters back into finals contention but also gained a recall to representative football with the NSW Blues and Country.

now thats some good news

 

[Monk]

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! :crazy:

fitzy your a champion!
:crazy:

 

[BeeeeeRad]

I'm over the moon about this news hopefully it wasn't for a ridiculous amount though (even though he deserves it!) as we need to re-sign a few more players in Shaun Foley and there is quite a few U-20's I wouldn't mind hanging onto.

 

[2 True Blues]

How good was Fitzy in that origin game. The bloke has ticker like Pharlap.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

It's a win, win for all. I hope he gives rep footy a rest next year mind you.

 

[2 True Blues]

Surely the bloke would have to soon mate.

What about that SOO effort though. First three tackles in a row, non stop. And at that age. Awesome effort IMO.

 

[nqboy]

SMH
July 10, 2008 - 4:32PM

Re-born Sydney Roosters skipper Craig Fitzgibbon will play on in 2009, finally sealing a deal with the NRL club on Thursday. The 31-year-old veteran has extended his contract with the Roosters by a year, capping a stellar season in which he returned to State of Origin football with NSW.

Fitzgibbon, who joined the Roosters in 1999, had been faced with retirement due to salary cap constraints but the club has offloaded forwards Anthony Tupou (Cronulla) and David Shillington (Canberra) for next year. "I'm glad the process is over and done with, it's been a long process but my heart is with the Roosters and I'm delighted to be staying here for another season," Fitzgibbon said in a statement late Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Roosters say they have put themselves in a position be able to rest players as they head towards an almost-certain spot in the NRL finals. New Zealand international Sia Soliola has been left out of Friday night's match against the injury-ravaged Gold Coast, and Roosters coach Brad Fittler said his centre could be joined by others in the run home.

"There's some blokes who are carrying injuries and if you can win games it allows you to hold blokes back that are carrying injuries," Fittler said. "The team have put themselves in a position where hopefully we can rest some players and be smarter with their bodies. Whether you call it resting or you call it being out injured, basically they knock themselves about in our game."

The Roosters sit equal top of the NRL ladder with Manly and Cronulla, virtually guaranteeing them a place in the finals. They will have five of their six State of Origin representatives back on deck on Friday night, but Fittler said they weren't necessarily the players most in need of a break. "They talk about the mental side of it, that's the thing the players are getting better at," he said.

Fittler said he had not over-emphasised the returns of Braith Anasta, Mitchell Pearce, Craig Fitzgibbon, Anthony Tupou and Willie Mason for the Sydney Football Stadium clash. "I think sometimes when you comment on those things you're asking for trouble, so basically we're just asking for the same input into training and the same input into the weekend," he said.

Pearce returns with his confidence intact after being part of NSW's series loss in his Origin debut. "It was a good experience, (I was) disappointed at the time that we lost but I'm over it now and looking forward to this," he said. "I was pretty happy with my game to be honest, overall."

The Titans, who have lost five of their past six games, will go into the game as rank outsiders with co-captains Scott Prince (arm) and Luke Bailey (foot) watching from the sidelines along with Ashley Harrison (ribs), Mark Minichiello (ankle), Brett Delaney (groin), Luke O'Dwyer (shoulder), Brenton Bowen (cheekbone) and Aaron Cannings (leg). Josh Graham and Gavin Cooper will form a makeshift centres pairing, while former Test forward Brad Meyers still can't force his way into the side despite the injury crisis.

 

[Chook]

Great news, Fitzy = Roosters legend.

I'm really stoked for him, he wanted this and hopefully he can get another one of two years out of that old bod!

Chook.

 

[gregstar]

obviosly the belsen survivor has had a glittering career which i doubt he'd change in any way.


however i believe his attacking skills were never truly realised. at the steelers & then the dragons, he was a devastating wide runner who could hit holes & offload to outside backs through the line. wtf happened? he was suddenly a workhorse (obviously a good one - but his attack was seemingly drilled out.)

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

Surely the bloke would have to soon mate.

What about that SOO effort though. First three tackles in a row, non stop. And at that age. Awesome effort IMO.

One of the few Blues who can hold his head up in what was a dud series. I have no doubt he can run around again but from a totally selfish point of view, I hope he doesn't. We might get two years out of him that way.;-)

 

[fowlster]

This has made my Friday even better

This man is a champ...here's hoping for a back to back to send him out fittingly