ing sh aus en . ▁ ▁Play ing ▁career ▁ ▁National ▁Rugby ▁League ▁Fitz g ib bon ▁began ▁his ▁playing ▁career ▁for ▁the ▁Il la war ra ▁Ste el ers ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 8 . ▁In ▁his ▁first ▁season , ▁he ▁was ▁the ▁Ste el ers ' ▁top ▁point - sc orer ▁and ▁was ▁named ▁ro ok ie ▁of ▁the ▁year . ▁Following ▁the ▁Ste el ers ' ▁mer ger ▁with ▁St . ▁George ▁Drag ons , ▁he ▁played ▁for ▁the ▁merged ▁club ▁St . ▁George ▁Il la war ra ▁Drag ons . ▁Fitz g ib bon ▁played ▁from ▁the ▁ben ch ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁N RL ▁Grand ▁Final , ▁scoring ▁the ▁first ▁try ▁in ▁the ▁Drag ons ' ▁ 2 0 – 1 8 ▁loss . ▁ ▁Fitz g ib bon ▁subsequently ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁Ro ost ers ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 0 . ▁He ▁played ▁at ▁second - row ▁forward ▁and ▁scored ▁a ▁try ▁in ▁the ▁Ro ost ers ' ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁N RL ▁Grand ▁Final ▁loss ▁to ▁the ▁Br is b ane ▁Bron cos . ▁Event ually , ▁Fitz g ib bon ▁won ▁a ▁premi ership ▁with ▁the ▁Ro ost ers , ▁playing ▁at ▁second - row ▁forward ▁in ▁their ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁N RL ▁grand ▁final ▁victory ▁over ▁the ▁New ▁Zealand ▁War riors ▁and ▁winning ▁the ▁C live ▁Church ill ▁Medal ▁for ▁his ▁best - on - ground ▁performance . ▁Having ▁won ▁the ▁ 2 0 0