Norm Provan

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Norm 'Sticks' Provan was an Australian rugby league player. He was a second-row forward with the St. George Dragons during their 11 year consecutive premiership winning run from 1956 to 1966. He was a representative in the Australian national team in 1954 and from 1956 to 1960 earning 14 test and 2 World Cup caps.

Provan holds the club record of 284 games for the Dragons between 1951 and 1965 and played in the 1st ten of the Grand Final victories and was captain coach for four.

In 1963 he and Arthur Summons were immortalised in John O'Gready's award winning photo 'The Gladiators' which later became the model for the New South Wales Rugby League premiership competition trophies of the 1990s and into the 21st century. The shot of the mud caked Provan and Summons leaving the Sydney Cricket Ground in congratulatory embrace after the St George v Wests Grand Final captures the essence of Rugby League wherein a little man can compete against the bigger man and where sporting respect and camaraderie follow epic struggle.

After retiring from playing he went on to coach Parramatta Eels for a single season in 1975. Under his stewardship the Eels won the Pre-Season Cup (Wills Cup), the club's maiden first-grade title, and only fell one game short of making their first grand final appearance.