Denis Fitzgerald

Lanky Eels forward played for NSW as early as 1971 but reached his peak later in his career when he gained selection in Australia's World Series squads in 1975 and 1977. Interestingly, while still a player, Fitzgerald led a reform group in 1973 that brought new blood to the club's administration - and was to repel a similar faction in his dual role of League and Football Club Chief Executive in 1992. A member of P’matta's first grand final team (beaten by Manly in 1976) he was a reserve the following year in both the historic draw and replay against St George. He retired at age 27 to enter club administration and oversaw the fortunes of the club during the ‘golden eighties’ that produced four premiership titles. An original member of the 9-man NSWRL Board in 1983 Fitzgerald was personally under siege during the early 1990s but survived several challenges (most notably from former star player Ray Price) to remain ‘el supremo’ of the club. In 1996 he was appointed to the ARL Board and was a member of the inaugural NRL Board, but resigned both posts by the end of 1999. Fitzgerald again shouldered criticism with his support of coach Brian Smith after the club’s loss in the 2001 grand final and 2005 final before finally sacking him before the start of the 2006 season.