Tributes flow for Norm Provan
The NRL community is in mourning after sporting legend Norm Provan died on Wednesday evening.
The 88-year-old St George Dragons giant represented the club in 256 games between 1951 and 1965, and is widely regarded as one of the best football players of the 20th century.
The second-rower featured in St George’s unprecedented 11-year reign as NSWRL premiers between 1956 and 1966.
Norm set an Australian rugby league record by appearing in ten grand finals of the game.
In 2015, Norm was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, and was named a Rugby League Immortal three years later.
He is also famous for being immortalised on the Provan-Summons Trophy, which is awarded to the NRL premiers of each season.
The iconic photograph of Provan alongside Arthur Summons was captured in the SCG mud after the 1963 grand final between the Dragons and the Magpies.
Norm represented NSW in 19 games, as well as competing in 14 Tests for Australia.
Social media is awash with a flood of tributes for the sporting legend from sports commentators, journalists and fellow rugby players.
The warrior. The immortal. The legend.
Vale Norm Provan, I met Norm in 2003 on the Sunshine Coast & you wouldn’t meet a truer gentleman.
I’ll never forget shaking your hand & to this day, it’s the biggest hand I’ve ever shaken!! Will be missed #RIPNormProvan 🐉 pic.twitter.com/nZMo0tbKus— Ashton Sims (@ashtonsims26) October 13, 2021
Never before, never again. Remembering the great man Norm Provan @NRL_Dragons pic.twitter.com/gzrm5MHwzt
— Yvonne O’Keefe (@VonOKeefe) October 13, 2021
Image credits: Getty Images