The Gladiators
In 1963 Provan and Arthur Summons were immortalised one of the most memorable sporting images ever captured in Australia, John O'Gready's award winning photo 'The Gladiators' which later became the model for the NSWRL premiership Winfield Cup trophies from 1982 to 1995 the NRL trophy since 1998.
The 1963 NSW Rugby League Premiership Grand Final between long term rivals Western Suburbs and St George was played in a torrential downpour on Saturday, 24 August. This, combined with the centre cricket pitch area of Sydney Cricket Ground being notoriously muddy in such conditions, ensured that the players were saturated and caked in mud from head to toe. At the conclusion of the hard fought match won by St George, the captains of the teams, the towering Provan and more diminutive Summons, embraced in appreciation of each other's stoic efforts. The moment, captured by a newspaper photographer John O'Gready and published in the following day's Sun-Herald captured an essential element of rugby league wherein a little man can evenly compete against a bigger man and the sporting respect and camaraderie that follows epic struggle. Subsequently the image won several awards and became known as The Gladiators.
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