The Gladiators: Provan and Summons Embrace in Iconic Photo

Norm Provan and Arthur Summons, original signatures on a large format print of the iconic photograph by John O'Gready, known as 'The Gladiators'; overall 43 x 34 cm. 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 fact that the centre cricket pitch area of S.C.G. was notoriously muddy in such conditions, ensured that the players were not only saturated but also caked in mud from head to toe. At the conclusion of the hard-fought match which was won by St George, the captains of the two teams, the tall Norm Provan and more diminutive Summons respectively, embraced in appreciation of each other's stoic efforts. The moment was captured by a newspaper photographer, John O'Gready, and published in the following day's The Sun-Herald . Subsequently, the image won several awards, becoming known as The Gladiators.