Fitzgibbon: It's a great celebration for the game but the Sharks mentor has run his own race in the game By Roy Masters In the game of the father … Cronulla coach Craig FitzgibbonCredit: Fairfax Media Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time the real-life Tiger Woods and tennis’s Williams sisters Craig Fitzgibbon was not turned on the lathe of his father’s ambition the 47-year-old coach of the Sharks since 2022 Despite their football club backgrounds being almost as parallel as the uprights through which Craig kicked goals to become the highest points-scoring forward in premiership history Allan never sought to shape his son’s career or reap its rewards any generational family coaching Sydney’s poorest club such as the earlier example of John and Aaron Raper knows you don’t coach the Sharks for money) Craig Fitzgibbon with his father Allan and mother Michelle in 2003 but once he started getting into junior rep teams but he always left it to me to make the end call “Mum and dad still live in Dapto,” he adds with the unassuming normalcy both families live their lives but doesn’t come to Shark Park home games,” before adding in joking reference to Allan’s role in one of rugby league’s greatest upsets - Balmain beating Souths in the 1969 grand final - “He goes to about 15 Balmain 1969 reunions a year.” Allan Fitzgibbon playing for Balmain.Credit: Fairfax Media Craig is as closed as an oyster about his own life and is resistant to publicity He opens up only about his childhood years “I do remember the joy of coming to the game I’ve been in and around first-grade dressing sheds since the age of 7 I didn’t realise how fortunate I’ve been until I started bringing my own kids to the football He agrees the pull of the game is akin to a great ocean tide; it churns on relentlessly with its hold over you greater beneath the surface than above “We’ve been around the game most of our lives I don’t know if we know anything different.” it is to rugby league’s credit that so many play/coach their father’s game with their father’s name Craig Fitzgibbon actually took the point-scoring record from Canberra’s David Furner who later coached the club ‘He goes to about 15 Balmain 1969 reunions a year.’ Other NRL combinations are the Clearys at Penrith; the Flanagans at the Dragons the Fultons at Manly and the Arthurs at Parramatta daughter of early Queensland Origin player The Bulldogs Max King is a fourth-generation player grandfather John (St George) and great-grandfather Cec (South Sydney) The Fitzgibbons are about to become a three-generational rugby league family with Craig’s son Aaymon - a promising five-eighth with the Illawarra Steelers SG Ball team - in demand from a number of NRL clubs Consistent with Allan’s “advice only” involvement in Craig’s career Craig will ensure the Fitzgibbon name will neither be a burden nor a blessing “Aaymon has just starting to talk to a number of clubs,” he said He did eight weeks pre-season training with St George Illawarra before going back to SG Ball I’m not sure it’s best at his age to jump to another club.” Craig Fitzgibbon playing for the Dragons in 1999.Credit: NRL Imagery While the father of Wests Tigers Lachlan Galvin might take a different view on the future of his 19-year-old son longstanding St George Illawarra supporters will be heartened by Craig’s preference that his son remains a Dragon Craig left the club the year after starring in the losing 1999 grand final team had he started the game and St George Illawarra won would probably have been awarded the Churchill Medal for best on ground fuelled by the administrative inertia of the early years of the joint venture Fitzgibbon waited for days for a contract before the Sydney Roosters made him feel wanted saying: “Here’s a three-year deal; good money; we want you to play for us and be our goal kicker.” As it transpired Fitzgibbon won his Churchill Medal in the Roosters’ 2002 premiership team it is the only grand final he won in five attempts His critics as a coach point to his results with the Sharks finishing second in 2022 but losing successive finals; sixth in 2023 but fourth in 2024 before a loss to the Storm won the Sharks’ inaugural minor premiership in 1988 followed by successive losses in the finals while the 1989 and 1990 years were also disappointing But to blame these results on Fitzgibbon genes is ludicrous was mystified by the Sharks’ finals paralysis Apart from his quip about waiting for the Sharks to win a premiership being akin to leaving the porch light on for Harold Holt the ARL Coach of the Century also lamented of Cronulla: “There is something in the woodwork of the joint.” Craig Fitzgibbon hugs Sydney Roosters captain Brad Fittler after they won the 2002 titleCredit: REUTERS But if rich clubs think the most important factor in winning is spirit before Shane Flanagan’s 2016 breakthrough premiership: “People ridicule the Sharks for not winning a premiership It’s a success for the club just to survive a season.” The financial situation at Shark Park is better now have resources to provide benefits the Sharks can only envy rather than a monetary one the Sharks must break through in 2025 if their end of season is not to resemble a vain man’s 39th birthday - an annual event Asked whether his own future is inextricably linked to the performance in big games of Hynes and to a lesser extent Nicho Hynes and Craig Fitzgibbon.Credit: NRL Photos but then came two poor State of Origin matches He’d developed a reputation for either magic or meltdown Nicho looks like a bank robber surrounded by cops he usually resembles a traffic cop comfortably in control except to say all top halves have early “vulnerabilities” and it takes time to develop an all-around game Melbourne’s Jahrome Hughes took six years to progress from a utility who did not play a game on New Zealand’s tour of England to winning the 2024 Dally M Medal for being the game’s best player They will come in droves for you after that.’ suggesting it would embrace the tribal nature of Anglo-Saxon families the Sharks season launch featured on stage Indigenous Australian Samoan and Tongan dance routines from players across the NRL and NRLW incorporating 46 different heritages was unveiled Fitzgibbon defers all credit to the club’s welfare department for celebrating the increasing diversity in the game Fitzgibbon is a fundamentally decent man in a profession which breeds paranoia and surliness His friends say there are only a small number of better people in the world such as a few mothers and the recently departed Pope His critics wonder if he lacks the ruthlessness sometimes needed it would seem to be criticism followed by a cuddle Fitzgibbon is aware of the story of Pinocchio mentioned at the beginning of this column and how he was shaped by his woodcutter father And how Pinocchio’s nose grew every time he told a lie He concedes it is not in the Fitzgibbon nature to torture the truth a phenomenon termed “the Pinocchio Syndrome” by psychologists Allan Fitzgibbon acknowledges this bedrock truth of his family and the game saying with the wisdom of the father/coach: “When you tell a player a lie They will come in droves for you after that.” NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now Michael Chammas and Andrew “Joey” Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter the real-life Tiger Woods and tennis\\u2019s Williams sisters Craig Fitzgibbon was not turned on the lathe of his father\\u2019s ambition Allan never sought to shape his son\\u2019s career or reap its rewards any generational family coaching Sydney\\u2019s poorest club knows you don\\u2019t coach the Sharks for money) \\u201CCraig was a ballboy with me at Cronulla \\u201CMy father let me make my own decisions \\u201CMum and dad still live in Dapto,\\u201D he adds with the unassuming normalcy both families live their lives but doesn\\u2019t come to Shark Park home games,\\u201D before adding in joking reference to Allan\\u2019s role in one of rugby league\\u2019s greatest upsets - Balmain beating Souths in the 1969 grand final - \\u201CHe goes to about 15 Balmain 1969 reunions a year.\\u201D \\u201CI do remember the joy of coming to the game I\\u2019ve been in and around first-grade dressing sheds since the age of 7 I didn\\u2019t realise how fortunate I\\u2019ve been until I started bringing my own kids to the football \\u201CWe\\u2019ve been around the game most of our lives I don\\u2019t know if we know anything different.\\u201D it is to rugby league\\u2019s credit that so many play/coach their father\\u2019s game with their father\\u2019s name Craig Fitzgibbon actually took the point-scoring record from Canberra\\u2019s David Furner who later coached the club The Fitzgibbons are about to become a three-generational rugby league family with Craig\\u2019s son Aaymon - a promising five-eighth with the Illawarra Steelers SG Ball team - in demand from a number of NRL clubs Consistent with Allan\\u2019s \\u201Cadvice only\\u201D involvement in Craig\\u2019s career \\u201CAaymon has just starting to talk to a number of clubs,\\u201D he said I\\u2019m not sure it\\u2019s best at his age to jump to another club.\\u201D longstanding St George Illawarra supporters will be heartened by Craig\\u2019s preference that his son remains a Dragon saying: \\u201CHere\\u2019s a three-year deal; good money; we want you to play for us and be our goal kicker.\\u201D As it transpired Fitzgibbon won his Churchill Medal in the Roosters\\u2019 2002 premiership team won the Sharks\\u2019 inaugural minor premiership in 1988 followed by successive losses in the finals was mystified by the Sharks\\u2019 finals paralysis the ARL Coach of the Century also lamented of Cronulla: \\u201CThere is something in the woodwork of the joint.\\u201D before Shane Flanagan\\u2019s 2016 breakthrough premiership: \\u201CPeople ridicule the Sharks for not winning a premiership It\\u2019s a success for the club just to survive a season.\\u201D \\u201CThey\\u2019ve had some dramas over the years things are pretty stable now.\\u201D However rather than a monetary one the Sharks must break through in 2025 if their end of season is not to resemble a vain man\\u2019s 39th birthday - an annual event He\\u2019d developed a reputation for either magic or meltdown except to say all top halves have early \\u201Cvulnerabilities\\u201D and it takes time to develop an all-around game Melbourne\\u2019s Jahrome Hughes took six years to progress from a utility who did not play a game on New Zealand\\u2019s tour of England to winning the 2024 Dally M Medal for being the game\\u2019s best player Fitzgibbon defers all credit to the club\\u2019s welfare department for celebrating the increasing diversity in the game And how Pinocchio\\u2019s nose grew every time he told a lie a phenomenon termed \\u201Cthe Pinocchio Syndrome\\u201D by psychologists saying with the wisdom of the father/coach: \\u201CWhen you tell a player a lie They will come in droves for you after that.\\u201D Michael Chammas and Andrew \\u201CJoey\\u201D Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round They will come in droves for you after that.\\u2019 \\u2018He goes to about 15 Balmain 1969 reunions a year.\\u2019 Former defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon has given his final thoughts on the 2025 federal election Following a narrow loss to the Tigers last week, Craig Fitzgibbon addressed the media speaking about his side's performance and preparation heading into Magic Round Reflecting on the golden point thriller at Leichhardt Oval Fitzgibbon remained positive about the brand of footy the Sharks are playing "You’ve got to look at the positives and move on pretty quick," he said I thought for where the situation we were in the first half to get back into the game and probably control majority of that second half," "A lot of good stuff to come out of the game." Whilst most of the commentary around the team has been about their inability to close out games Fitzgibbon dismissed the narrative as media-driven perception we’ll make some tweaks and adjustments," he said "When you don’t ice the moment you obviously got to go back and look at what you got to do better," but we won’t pay attention to the outside noise." The Sharks are determined to regroup after the defeat and focus on the quick turnaround they have before facing the Eels on Friday night "The hardest part to prepare is only five day turnaround that we’ve got to get ready for," said Fitzgibbon MORE: NRL team lists: Every side’s confirmed lineup for Magic Round Despite Cronulla being a hot bed for rugby league and only hosting two games at Sharks Stadium this season Fitzgibbon is looking forward to the spectacle of Magic Round and believes it's a positive for the game "The more we promote the game in places like Brisbane and to see all the club’s descend in one round and the fanfare and the excitement I think it's good promotion for the game," he said His enthusiasm is influenced by his team's venture to Las Vegas to kickoff the season in another expansion-focused event "We had the experience of Vegas this year and that’s been awesome," he said For a Sharks team looking to rebound and recalibrate Suncorp Stadium is the perfect opportunity to prove to pundits that they are a serious outfit in 2025 capable of winning close against anyone in the competition Tobey Lewis is an editorial intern for Sporting News Australia he bemoans being the lone player from his high school rugby league team to not be an NRL star An Allan Fitzgibbon double has helped Ipswich continue to be the sleeping giant in the Hostplus Cup dispatching the Wynnum Manly Seagulls 22-6 on Saturday to remain tied in the top four after Round 6 Boasting an impressive 3-1 record (including a bye and with a catch-up game in hand due to ex-TC Alfred) to start their campaign the Jets led from start to finish at Kougari Oval with the the Titans flyer Fitzgibbon contributing in the performance with a two-try haul Gold Coast fans would have been pleased to see Josiah Pahulu with increased minutes after a disrupted start to his season due to concussion making 141 metres with 14 hit-ups across 54 minutes of game time The Jets next host the luckless Northern Pride who are yet to win a game this season as they aim to continue building on their strong season Tweed went down in another tight tussle with Mackay Cutters clinching victory at the death in Townsville with a 26-22 win at Queensland Country Bank Stadium Young gun Sam Stephenson was strong on the win with a try three line breaks and 122 running metres; whilst Sean Mullany topped the tackle count with 39 efforts at lock The Seagulls next host the Western Clydesdales at Piggabeen still in touch with the top eight despite only one win thus far due to their close for-and-against with all five losses being within 10 points of the opposition 'I feel blessed and lucky': Fotuaika celebrates 150 NRL games Judiciary update: Fotuaika cleared for milestone match Key three: Injury makes Magic Round tough tussle against ladder leaders Credit: MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGEA former Labor defence minister has issued a withering assessment of Australia’s complacency in the face of looming conflict urging bipartisanship and stronger will to build up the Defence Force Joel Fitzgibbon used an Anzac Day address to warn the western world has “lost the will to adequately protect ourselves” despite rising tensions across the globe His intervention comes amid calls for defence experts from both sides of politics to take seriously the urgent need to better prepare for war Get the first look at the digital newspaper curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Mr Fitzgibbon – whose son Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon died last year after a parachuting accident during commando training – said Anzac Day should be a time to think about Australia’s future as much as its past In honouring those who had served the country he said leaders must show they meant it by ensuring their deeds were not in vain to be as committed to the defence of our national interests as they were – today tomorrow and beyond,” he told the dawn service in North Bondi conflicts underway in the Middle East and Ukraine and rising tensions in Australia’s own backyard “Just as we in the West appear to have lost the will to reproduce ourselves in sufficient number we seem to have lost the will to adequately protect ourselves,” Mr Fitzgibbon said “To maintain peace in our region we must maintain vigilance That means more than just hoping for a capable Defence Force “That means we need our people – all of us including our young people – to appreciate that we need the capacity to deter an enemy and Not just as a defence force but as a nation.” But the former minister said the nation would only be capable of this if Australians were sending that message constantly to political leaders it will continue to be a priority for them The Coalition on Wednesday announced it would add $21 billion to Defence spending over the next five years to boost it to 2.5 per cent of GDP It wants to reach 3 per cent of GDP within a decade But Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was unable to say what the money would be used for beyond a fourth squadron of F-35 fighter jets Labor is on track to increase the defence budget to 2.3 per cent of GDP by 2033 Analysts have concerns that merely throwing more money at defence won’t solve decades of cumbersome procurement processes that have left gaps in Australia’s capabilities. There are also fears that the mammoth commitment to acquiring nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS is cannibalising other parts of defence both in terms of budget and attention. But at the same time, it’s unclear that AUKUS preparations are moving as fast as they need to be, especially in WA where major upgrades are needed around HMAS Stirling and the Henderson shipbuilding and maintenance precinct. The Trump administration has called for Australian defence spending to reach 3 per cent rapidly to counter China’s rise. Mining magnate Gina Rinehart, a Trump admirer, used a speech on the eve of Anzac Day to call for it to be hiked to 5 per cent. Mr Fitzgibbon said defence policy should always be a matter of “absolute bipartisanship”. “The financial cost of it demands it, the complexity of it demands it, the challenges of it demand it, and the need for it demands it,” he said. “We owe our fallen no less. We owe it to those who have returned but lived – or will live – shorter lives due to injury or mental trauma. “We owe our living veterans no less … and we owe our nation no less, including those who made significant sacrifices on the home front, and those who lost a partner, a parent, a son or daughter, or a brother and sister.” Latest EditionEdition Edition 5 May 20255 May 2025All-powerful Anthony Albanese says give me some R.E.S.P.E.C.T Full Match Replay: Titans v Raiders – Round 7 NRL Press Conference: Titans v Raiders - Round 7, 2025 Labor heavyweight Joel Fitzgibbon has vowed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would not sign a confidence and supply deal with the Greens, as prospects of a hung parliament continue to dominate the election campaign.  Former Labor defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon said Anthony Albanese has devoted the majority of his political life to “fighting the Greens” and would reject signing a deal with leader Adam Bandt if a hung parliament was delivered on May 3. Fitzgibbons' comments come after Greens leader Adam Bandt told the National Press Club on Tuesday that the government would “have to learn to play well with others” in the event of a hung parliament and stated neither of the major parties can attract a majority of voters. Mr Fitzgibbon said the Prime Minister had spent much of his political life “fighting the Greens" and that within his own electorate of Grayndler in Sydney’s inner city, “his main contest is with the far left”. “He was the leader of the House during the last hung parliament between 2010 and 2013. I saw it up close with him. I was the Chief Government Whip, and we worked together to hold that parliament into one piece”. “It's that experience, having watched Julia Gillard do a deal with the Greens, it's an experience that will ensure that Anthony Albanese won't be doing any deal with the Greens”, Mr Fitzgibbon said, speaking to Sky News Australia host Chris Kenny. Mr Albanese on Wednesday snapped at reporters after receiving a barrage of questions about a possible Labor Greens coalition government, retorting “Yes! How hard is it? For the 50th time” in relation to ruling out any agreement with the Greens.  However, Mr Fitzgibbon conceded the Prime Minister “will rely upon them to get legislation through the parliament”, referring to Labor needing to negotiate with the Greens in the senate to pass bills, a reality the government has faced for the entirety of its first term. Mr Fitzgibbon also provided his verdict on both leaders' performance at Sky News Australia’s People's Forum on Tuesday, stating they both presented themselves "very, very well”.  “Peter Dutton in particular needed a good night not because I think these debates turn the political dial much, but because I think he needed a boost in confidence, and you can see throughout the balance of the week that did exactly that for him," he said. Fitzgibbon noted Mr Dutton started the week “terribly”, with the Coalition reversing its plans to lay off thousands of federal bureaucrats and impose a work from home ban for civil servants, labeling the capitulation on those two policies as “one of the most damaging things I've seen during an election campaign”. “He needed something to recover from that. And he's continued on this week pretty strong after that debate. But he will need a lot more to further close that gap.” Mr Fitzgibbon advised that Mr Dutton “needs to adjust his strategy” and give his base “something very liberal, a policy which is structural, permanent and goes to the heart of productivity”, preferably through "the tax system".  “The Liberal Party has marketed itself as the party of low taxes, industrial relations reform, personal freedoms, etc. But we've seen none of that from Peter Dutton throughout the campaign”. The latest polling has suggested that neither Labor nor the Coalition will achieve a clear majority. Play Duration: 53 minutes 1 second53m Brought to you by There are few jobs in professional sports that are more important, and more unforgiving, than that of coach. Their most significant work is invisible to the fans. When things go wrong, the coach is usually the first to be blamed. When the team is enjoying success, it is the players that typically reap the accolades. Coaches can make or break a club. They can transform mid-tier teams to genuine contenders, and they can utterly “lose the locker room”. But the weight of responsibility that many coaches feel is not just the expectation to win. It’s the cultivation of a winning culture — creating the kind of environment that encourages players to sacrifice for one another, and strengthening the bonds that enabling them to withstand the dangers of failure and success. Guest: Craig Fitzgibbon’s name was synonymous with the resurgence of the Sydney Roosters rugby league club in the early 2000s. In his first season with the club, they reached the Grand Final for the first time in 25 years. In 2002, the Roosters won their first NRL premiership in nearly three decades — with Craig winning the Clive Churchill Medal. The Roosters went back to the Grand Final in both 2003 and 2004. Craig played 19 representative tests for Australia, and 11 State of Origin matches for NSW. After his retirement in 2011, Craig became assistant coach of the Roosters — over which time the club won premierships in 2013, 2018 and 2019. In 2021, Craig was named head coach of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. In 2023, he was inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame. Published: 23 Apr 2025Wed 23 Apr 2025 at 6:00pm Published: 16 Apr 2025Wed 16 Apr 2025 at 6:00pm Published: 9 Apr 2025Wed 9 Apr 2025 at 6:00pm Download the ABC listen app to hear more of your favourite podcasts Sorry, this audio is not yet available or has expiredBrought to you by In this Jazztrack Live you’ll hear one of Australia’s finest pianists Mark Fitzgibbon in performance at the Uptown Jazz Café in Melbourne. JazzTracklist05:01Played at 05:01Shanghai Raes [09'46]Performers Published: 26 Apr 2025Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 6:00am Published: 19 Apr 2025Sat 19 Apr 2025 at 6:00am Published: 12 Apr 2025Sat 12 Apr 2025 at 6:00am Download the ABC listen app for free music podcasts and playlists You can now click/tap WATCH to start the live stream. You can now click/tap LISTEN to start the live stream. You can now click/tap LATEST NEWS to start the live stream. Former federal Labor MP and former defence minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, has come up with a “fascinating” idea in the case of a hung parliament at the next federal election. Fitzgibbon thinks both Labor and Liberal parties should govern together in the event of a hung parliament, an idea which Tom Elliott thinks is a great one. “This is a bit of a hail mary of course,” Fitzgibbon said on 3AW Mornings. Press PLAY to hear Tom Elliott’s thoughts + the full interview with Joel Fitzgibbon “My guess is it wouldn’t last very long,” the 3AW Mornings host said. The new government has abandoned the Rwanda scheme but it’s too late for me to go back to judging even if I wanted to (I don’t). I look back on those years with a mixture of pride and disgust: pride that the tribunal for the most part did justice, disgust that the laws it had to apply were becoming an impediment to justice. To find out what an appellant’s case actually is when they are poorly represented or on their own, the judge has to intervene, without taking sides or appearing to do so. It’s a fine line. I was sometimes tempted to ask the obviously vital question that had been missed – a temptation I had to resist so as not to overstep the proper limits of judicial impartiality. When I started, the old guard of judges – ‘immigration adjudicators’ as they were then known – included a few dinosaurs who scarcely bothered to disguise their xenophobic views. Recently and under more enlightened leadership, fairness and independence have regained their place as the pre-eminent values. The overtly or covertly racist comments I sometimes heard in the judges’ corridor would not be tolerated now. At least not by me. The Rwanda Act nominated Rwanda as a safe third country. It proclaimed that ‘this Act gives effect to the judgment of Parliament that the Republic of Rwanda is a safe country … every decision-maker must conclusively treat the Republic of Rwanda as a safe country.’ No real judgment by a judge was allowed. ‘Decision-makers’ expressly include judges as well as Home Office asylum staff. I left the tribunal with sadness. The other judges were supportive and always ready to help with tricky questions of law (and asylum and immigration law is often tricky). The work was valuable and engrossing. But there came a point. More by this contributorFrancis FitzGibbon29 January 2022 Newsletter Preferences This site requires the use of Javascript to provide the best possible experience Please change your browser settings to allow Javascript content to run own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment Australian National University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU View all partners Signing off his 26-year parliamentary career three years ago, the retiring Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon lamented a power imbalance that allowed the majority party routinely to railroad the national legislature In a refreshingly frank valedictory speech the former minister claimed the House of Representatives had become nothing more than a rubber stamp for executive government And he criticised the practice of compelling MPs to vote in blocs not only do governments typically hold the numbers; they are using them more ruthlessly within their party structures […] party discipline is strangling our democracy in an era when the world is changing so dramatically Voters apparently share his unease. The combined primary vote share of the Labor-Coalition duopoly has been declining since the 1980s from around 90% The remainder is going to minor parties and independents if they should have the temerity to install crossbench MPs beyond the discipline of the two major parties Labor and Coalition supporters alike are now shaking in their boots the minor parties have the champagne on ice relishing the chance to hold the country to ransom It’s as if the voters have no deliberative intent Perhaps this is nothing more than the familiar slouch into conservative chauvinism to which so many ex-parliamentary Labor men succumb The rightward drift of progressively-striped former legislators is a well-worn path Gary Johns and John Black springing to mind Less openly canvassed are the unconscious gender biases and the major party self-interests that are driving them One answer to “what’s changed?” is the electoral embrace of the Teals – seven conspicuously competent professional women defiantly occupying once blue-ribbon Liberal seats These new MPs (six of whom came in at the last election) were successful because voters wanted to break free of the suited duopoly and the limited solutions it proffers To old-guard politicos for whom traditional binaries dominate their needling from the crossbenches may seem almost insolent which involved circumnavigation of the established party “meritocracies” is viewed by many in the major parties as an existential threat to the two-party system Yet it is the widely perceived mediocrity of the two-party dominance that is their very attraction to voters Fitzgibbon is hardly the first to hyperventilate about the perils of a hung parliament where crossbench MPs may have a role in assuring confidence and supply numbers to one side or the other But his solution to this alleged problem is novel to the point of bizarre Despite calling Australia’s system “hyper-partisan” he proposes that Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton might collude ahead of the election in order to agree that whoever has the most seats post-election will be guaranteed supply and confidence for 18 months hence Leaving aside that the independent MPs are in fact Fitzgibbon’s fix flies in the face of the very chamber whose dwindling primacy he formerly eulogised he proposes an arrangement between two opposing blocs that would pre-emptively close out non-major party MPs despite their authority deriving from the people This is not to say the question of any crossbench intentions in a hung parliament situation are beyond the limits of public conjecture But a preventative neutering of their participation in the construction of a parliamentary majority (should it come to that) is a drastic and potentially counter-representative act Australia has limited experience of minority governments at the national level The only recent example was the aforementioned Gillard-Rudd term (2010–2013). Notwithstanding leadership turbulence, a record number of bills were passed despite the sense of numerical precarity and the need for clause-by-clause negotiation with cross bench MPs Legislating 561 bills – much higher than the previous Labor term – it also encountered higher resistance from the Coalition opposition That parliament’s reputation proved the old adage that history is written by the winners. By repealing the carbon price and hobbling other priorities the subsequent Abbott government and its media enablers were able to depict the 44th parliament as extreme and dysfunctional In the current parliament, Teals like Allegra Spender have shown more interest in bold tax reform, while others like Zali Steggall have pushed harder on climate change and truth in political advertising It cannot be known which of the current crop of crossbench MPs will be re-elected or whether there will be more But the trend in successive elections suggests Australians are tiring of the old parties and are looking for other options Suggesting clever tricks to freeze out these voters smacks of desperation and worse It is likely to hasten the demise of blocs which only recently combined to write new election campaign finance laws that give them the edge A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites. This is also known as Online Behavioural Advertising. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out More news: Shares in NIB Holdings fell 4% to $6.94 in early trading after the health insurer said its long-time CEO Mark Fitzgibbon will retire on 1 September and will be replaced by its ARHI business boss Ed Close Fitzgibbon has been NIB's managing director and CEO since 2002 The news: NIB Holdings’ long-time CEO Mark Fitzgibbon will retire on 1 September and will be replaced by the boss of the health insurer's ARHI business The numbers: Fitzgibbon joined NIB in 2002 as managing director and CEO and led the company’s demutualisation and ASX listing in 2007 Close joined NIB Group in 2017 as head of marketing and products for its core Australian Residents Health Insurance (ARHI) business who has previously held senior roles at Commonwealth Bank is expected to formally take up his new position before the end of 2024 NIB said he has driven strong growth at ARHI and also oversees product development and leads the group’s strategic partnerships with brokers and white label partners NIB Group Chair David Gordon thanked Fitzgibbon for his contribution Mark has been at the helm of a company that has undergone a remarkable transformation and that transformation is a great credit to his leadership,” he said in a statement The source: ASX All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueMr Fitzgibbon joined the Hunter-based health insurer in 2002, and led NIB's demutualisation and listing on the ASX in 2007. He plans to spend more time with the grandkids and driving a tractor around his 1300-acre Hunter Valley farm. Beyond that, he's "not quite sure and not bothered by that". "Some people get worried about not knowing what's around the corner, I kind of get a little bit excited. Maybe I'm a little bit strange like that," Mr Fitzgibbon told the Newcastle Herald. One thing he does know is that he'll inevitably need to work on something other than reducing his golf handicap. "I'll be bored shitless unless I do something that interests me and keeps me more active," Mr Fitzgibbon said. "I'm very interested in facilitating professional team performance - I did some work with the [Newcastle] Knights when Wayne Bennett was here a long time ago now, which I enjoyed. "I use the word facilitate, because it's not about telling him how to play football or netball, or run their business. It's about getting them talking, having safe and honest and open discussions about what their goals are, what they need to build upon, what are the bad habits. "I've been working on a methodology around that for some time. If you're going to do something like this you want to make it replicable." Mr Fitzgibbon, who turned 65 in November, quoted legendary rugby league coach Jack Gibson when describing how he viewed his 22-year stint leading NIB. "He said 'good players make good coaches', and I think it's true for CEOs as well," Mr Fitzgibbon said. "One thing you learn very quickly in these roles is that your job is more like a coach or the maestro of an orchestra. "I don't play any instruments, my job is to understand what the audience expects, to make sure the right people are playing right instruments. My job is to make sure the score is well put together and everyone's playing together in time. "It might sound a bit cheesy, but I think it's a good analogy when you think about the role CEOs have to play." Despite the company now claiming a spot among the ASX100, Mr Fitzgibbon said he's never seen himself as an industry leader. "Staying grounded is really important to me - I still like to brag that I grew up in Cessnock in reasonable modest circumstances," he said "It can be a very lonely job, so I'm very grateful for the people I've worked with, and my family and friends for their support. "Having those friendships around you is really important to keep you grounded. You can never allow yourself to get too carried away with yourself." The NIB Mr Fitzgibbon leaves behind is a very different company to one he started at more than two decades ago, providing healthcare to 1.8 million people. "We're involved in many different business lines these days," Mr Fitzgibbon said. "We're the second-largest health insurance in New Zealand, we literally have operations in San Francisco, Cork in Ireland and London courtesy of our travel insurance business." Mr Fitzgibbon is also leaving at a time of rapid change within the health industry. "The nature of healthcare delivery is changing quite profoundly - think of the rise and rise of virtual GP consultations, we'll probably facilitate about 200,000 GP consultations this year," he said. "We're seeing a shift from people staying in hospital for four or five days after a hip replacement to going home the next day, and maybe having their physio done at home. "You can have a script filled and home delivered. We have a symptom checker that uses AI [artificial intelligence] to help you diagnose symptoms." Underneath all these changes was technology, Mr Fitzgibbon said, which is why NIB has "always embraced technology, because you never quite know where it's heading". Despite the excitement of not knowing what's around the corner, Mr Fitzgibbon admits he'll miss leading one of the nation's largest private health insurers. "I'm almost as passionate and as energetic as I was 22 years ago when I started, but I know I'll still be that way in another 22 years," he said. "I don't think I'll ever be dispassionate about the sector. But everything has a beginning and an end." Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters Don't miss your weekly Knights update Get the latest property and development news here tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords Editors' Note: Many Fast News images are stylised illustrations generated by Dall-E the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of nib Holdings He's being replaced by current division head and former marketing leader who has been with the health insurer for more than seven years Fitzgibbon joined nib in 2002 as Managing Director and CEO leading the company's demutualisation and listing on the ASX in 2007 expressed his gratitude for Fitzgibbon's leadership and contribution over more than two decades at the helm “Mark has been a tremendous leader at nib and has had an enormous impact on the Australian health sector making an extraordinary contribution over more than two decades,” said Gordon today nib provides more than 1.6 million Australian and New Zealand residents with private health insurance; it looks after the health and wellbeing needs of more than 200,000 international students and workers; nib is Australia’s third-largest travel insurer a 24-7 global business; and it helps around 40,000 participants in Australia’s disability sector and that transformation is a great credit to his leadership." Close (pictured) has been selected as nib’s incoming Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer and is expected to formally take up his position before the end of 2024 Close is currently the Chief Executive of nib’s core Australian Residents Health Insurance (arhi) business Close has been spearheading nib’s key payer to partner strategy and health management programs designed to deliver better health outcomes for members Close also leads nib’s partnership with health-tech company and is one of nib’s representatives on the Board of Honeysuckle Health a joint venture company between nib and global healthcare company Cigna Close has worked his way up NIB's executive ranks joining initially as head of marketing and products before stepping up to divisional CEO position “I’m delighted with Ed’s appointment,” Gordon said that we can appoint Ed with great confidence “Ed has deep insights into the way nib can continue to help shape the future of healthcare in Australia and he has the support of nib’s senior Executive team and the Board to achieve that Outgoing CEO Fitzgibbon also expressed his support for Close's appointment “Ed is an outstanding leader and will continue to be supported by nib’s world-class Executive team I look forward to working with him during the transition period.” Close's total fixed remuneration is $1,050,000 per annum Nib Group will announce its FY24 profit result on 26 August 2024 Want your daily shot of #AI powered, human curated news? Become a member of Mi3 Australia and ensure you get our Fast News daily newsletter straight to your inbox here Got news you want to share with Mi3 Fast News? Email your media announcements with either Word or PDF attachments plus images to fastnews@ai.mi-3.com.au Learn how to elevate the customer experience with insights from 8,000+ global consumers in Klaviyo's latest report. Register now Already a member? Login here Picture Sharks MediaCoach Craig Fitzgibbon found plenty of positives after the Sharks' defeat by the Panthers in Las Vegas Behind 24-10 midway through the second half which had them just two points in arrears before Penrith scored again to win 28-22 particularly in the first half and then when the game was on the line," Fitzgibbon said post-match They know what to do when they get into those situations They knew how to close a bit better than us." Fitzgibbon said "plenty of lessons" had been learnt and "it was probably a bit better than the last few times we played them The coach stepped in when captain Cameron McInnes said "I think we missed the mark on a couple of things tonight which is disappointing because the occasion shouldn't be too big for us now" I wish there were a few more of him out there they're four times premiers and we fell just short so I can't say the occasion got the better of us at all...some little things beat us in the backside" There were no excuses about travel or distractions but I thought it was great experience," Fitzgibbon said There is a lot of distraction but I thought the payers' attitude was great all week "It's a really good experience to go through Ideally you would like to be on the right end of the result We didn't get that tonight but we've got some stuff we can work on Fitzgibbon jumped on a question about Will Kennedy to praise the fullback's game "I thought Will Kennedy was outstanding," he said Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThirteen years after playing SG Ball at the Knights alongside Luke Yates and Mitch Barnett the same sport has helped them reunite on the other side of the world in Las Vegas Fitzgibbon and Yates are poised to team up for English Super League side Warrington against Wigan which kicks off a four-game bill at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday (AEDT) Barnett follows straight afterwards as part of the NRL's season-opening double header between his New Zealand Warriors and the Canberra Raiders Lachlan Fitzgibbon playing for the Knights in Newcastle in 2023 Picture by Jonathan Carroll"I was talking to Mitch Barnett and Luke Yates today [in Vegas] saying how crazy it is to think that we were all 18 and playing for Knights' SG Ball and now 13 years later we're all about to play at Allegiant Stadium on the other side of the world in Vegas," Fitzgibbon told the Newcastle Herald "It's honestly a wild ride rugby league and I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunities that have arisen from a kid from South Newcastle [juniors]." Having arrived in the US earlier this week former Knights back-rower Fitzgibbon says footy fans only enhanced the atmosphere around the famed city "The vibe and atmosphere just walking around Vegas needs no introduction but seeing all the English and Australian fans that have ventured over has given the place an even more electric feel," he said "I can only imagine the atmosphere in the stadium in front of 60-odd thousand." still recovering from shoulder surgery in the off-season He returned for Warrington in the second round last weekend "Recovery post surgery has been really positive," Fitzgibbon said "I have taken a little longer lay off than previously I've given myself around six months to make sure everything has settled down and have gotten as much strength into it as possible "It's the same shoulder as previous years and much of the same issues as before "But I played my first game back last weekend and my body pulled up great "So now just planning to stay on the paddock." Fitzgibbon admits it has "been many years" since playing out a full campaign and that was high on his priority list for 2025 He's also hoping to go one step further in the Challenge Cup with Warrington having lost last year's final and feels like Wolves have a "red-hot chance" at claiming English Super League's "big prize" My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury. More from SportNewsletters & AlertsView allDaily Ahead of his 100th club game for the Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has heaped praise on one of his club stalwarts labelling him a player “you love coaching” Sifa Talakai has been named on the bench for his milestone match with Briton Nikora and Teig Wilton claiming the backrow positions and the centre combination of Jesse Ramien and Kayal Iro here to stay “He’s a great story, Sifa,” Fitzgibbon told media in Townsville ahead of the round 2 match  “The amount of positional changes with that guy - there’s not too many players that play centre middle and do it at the level and capability that he has - he’s very selfless “He doesn’t care where he’s playing as long as he’s playing and he’ll do whatever the team needs him to do “He’s one of those players you love coaching: no fuss the boys respect him and we want to put a good performance on for him too.” Talakai’s well-trodden history is a familiar tale: Having made his NRL debut in 2016 with hometown club South Sydney the Mascot Jets junior played 11 games across two years and was cut loose due to a contract breach “I thought my career was over back in 2018, I think I was a bit immature when I was at the Rabbitohs,” Talakai told Fox League. I thought I was bigger than the club and just bigger than the whole NRL.. had all these big stars in my team and I thought I was one of them Talakai made his way through a stint with Penrith’s ressies an invitation to join Cronulla’s 2020 pre-season he was lining up in the centres for NSW and earning selection in Tonga’s stacked Test team "The Sharks mean everything to me,” the utility told Sharks media in 2024 "They've given me my second crack at NRL footy and looked after me in so many ways I owe everything to them as much as I do my family Talakai is currently signed through 2026 after inking a three-year extension in late 2022 After a failed athletic career in a far-flung land where delusions of former grandeur are hard to verify Chris found a home as Sporting News Australia's Chief Editor delivering fans original news and context beyond the box score Credit: DEAN LEWINS/AAPIMAGENIB has confirmed the exit date of long-serving chief executive Mark Fitzgibbon after more than two decades leading the major health insurer Mr Fitzgibbon in July informed the board of his intention to retire after more than 22 years with NIB with the insurer announcing he will be succeeded by Ed Close the chief executive of NIB’s core Australian residents health insurance business In a brief statement to the market on Thursday NIB said Mr Fitzgibbon will formally step down on November 30 and Mr Close will take up the position the following day Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.NIB shares rose following the announcement to close up 3 per cent to $5.88 NIB chair David Gordon in July said Mr Fitzgibbon had been a tremendous leader and had an enormous impact on the Australian health sector. Mr Close will be paid just over $1 million a year in his role as CEO. We're sorry. The page you are looking for cannot be found. You may have followed a broken or outdated link, or there may be an error on our site. Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOSCronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon believes his side are beginning to bridge the gap to the NRL's heavyweights confident that the Sharks don't even need to make wholesale changes to cement themselves as a premiership threat Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Sharks' premiership hopes ended with a 26-6 preliminary final loss to Penrith on Saturday Yet while the scoreline blew out in the latter stages it perhaps didn't tell the whole story of how Cronulla threatened to bring Penrith's dynasty to an end Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon had a positive message for their disappointed fans (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)The Panthers scored three tries in the last 15 minutes but were made to withstand a Cronulla fightback midway through the second half Cronulla's impressive effort against the Panthers came after a year when they secured a drought-busting finals win and claimed the scalp of Melbourne on their way to another top-four finish Fitzgibbon felt such markers of progress showed the Sharks were "getting closer" to the NRL's big boys "The good part of where we're at is I don't see a massive issue that we have to change everything," Fitzgibbon said "We've just got to listen and there's a level in this process that we've got to get right and I'm excited for that." Fitzgibbon said the Sharks were in the "middle of development" while the Panthers "were in the middle of a dynasty" Their 2024 campaign was not helped by the fact Dale Finucane was forced to retire and Cronulla had to contend for a large period of the season without first-choice halves duo Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes his Sharks have begun to show a resilience missing in years gone by "That's why it hurts so much because we saw the effort," Fitzgibbon said "I think our ability to hang in is probably something that's been questioned in the last couple of years and I think we've gotten a lot better at that "There's a lot of pieces in play that are starting to add up now about what's required for this time of year and we're going to have to go and earn them all again next year "But I love the way we've gone through it all and getting there "It was a fair margin by the end of the game but that's the levels they're at and that's what we've got to aspire to get to." Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Get the latest property and development news here. Find out what's happening in local business. Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. 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Photo: Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOSCraig Fitzgibbon is one of the NRL's great thinkers but the Cronulla coach struggles to articulate just how much a drought-breaking finals win would mean Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinue"It'd be hard to describe in a couple of sentences," he said ahead of Friday's semi-final against North Queensland at Allianz Stadium The Sharks are in the midst of a seven-game finals losing streak that predates not just Fitzgibbon's tenure but also that of his predecessor John Morris Of the 27 players to have featured for the Sharks this season only Jesse Ramien appeared in the side's last finals win - a one-point defeat of Penrith in the second week of the 2018 post-season the centre has had a stint at Newcastle since playing in that victory Out to avoid an eight-game finals losing streak When quizzed by media this week several players were unaware of criticism levelled at halfback Nicho Hynes over his form in last week's 37-10 qualifying-final loss to Melbourne But ignoring the finals record has been a bigger challenge "Obviously you're aware of it," Fitzgibbon said "We've all been through it together so there's lessons involved in that It's not get here and worry about what's happened in that past it's get here and learn what we're going to do in the future." The sporting cliché winning fixes everything would ring true for the Sharks with a victory on Friday night who has an unconvincing record in big games since relocating from Melbourne in 2022 It would show the side's core group of junior products have what it takes to make a deep run into the post-season it would mark the first time in three seasons under Fitzgibbon that the Sharks had met expectations in a finals series "It'd be confidence-building and just rewards for a hard season and a good season But it'll be a challenge," Fitzgibbon said their squad is choc with Origin players and final winners." Todd Payten's Cowboys snuffed out one of the Sharks' best chances to break their losing streak with a 32-30 extra-time win in the first week of the 2022 finals series South Sydney bounced the Sharks out of finals a week later and Payten expects the prospect of another early exit could be unsettling his rivals "They're a chance of going out in straight sets again so that will be playing on their minds," said the Cowboys coach The start is really important and then both teams are going to have to play on the back foot at different stages hanging in there when it's not going great." Find out what's happening in local business All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Sharks' premiership hopes ended with a 26-6 preliminary final loss to Penrith on Saturday We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy