The Gladiators

When rival captains Norm Provan and Arthur Summons came together in a momentary embrace at the end of the 1963 Rugby League grand final, they could never have imagined the tradition they were building. They became the subject of one of sport's most enduring images, and ultimately the centrepiece of League's premiership trophy.


Fifty years on, that moment is still celebrated as an iconic reflection of the game and its people. It is also a symbol of the changing face of sport, and of the role that sport has played in the Australian way of life. This book traces the legacy of Norm Provan and Arthur Summons and the champions of their time. In their own words, they tell how the game was, how it has changed, and where it is headed. They bring insight that only time and experience can fashion, and they do so with jaunty good humour.


Provan and Summons remain two of the most recognised players in the game. They were champion internationals in their own right, and they each went on to become coaches of high achievement. Provan is perhaps the most successful player of all time, having played in ten grand finals and won the lot.


They were the fiercest of rivals through three successive grand finals. Yet through the image that has immortalised them, they have become lifelong friends. This is their story and their sometimes provocative reflections on what has happened to Rugby League since.