IT IS A SINGLE image that defines Australia’s sporting character.
In one muddy moment in 1963, a remarkable image captured two great heroes in a way that made us all feel proud of our game, and of being Australian. Just what was said at the time between Norm Provan and Arthur Summons has been a matter of some conjecture over the years, and maybe Norm and Arthur will shed some light on that in the pages ahead.
However, it is what that image continues to say to all who see it that has become the true legacy of John O’Gready’s magical picture, known as ‘The Gladiators’. All the drama of a great sporting moment is captured—one man’s incredible moment of triumph at having won an eighth consecutive grand final, and another’s devastation at losing three in a row.
The differences between these two men went far beyond their grand final experience to encompass their stature, playing positions, even the stark contrast of the colours of their jerseys. Yet both walked off exhausted, caked in the same SCG mud and able to raise the same respectful smile that has leapt out of the frame to fascinate us for half a century, and no doubt for decades to come.
The ‘Greatest Game of All’ is proud to have this image as part of its living history and it is sad that John O’Gready is not alive to be a part of this moment. Norm and Arthur are living treasures and their incredible individual standing in the game only grows, adding further richness to our view of John O’Gready’s photograph.
As Rugby League looks ahead to an era of unprecedented growth and opportunity, we are committed to recognising and nurturing the traditions of the game. The ‘Heroes and Legends’ museum at Rugby League Central is a place where the past gains a new vibrancy and is a current force for moulding today’s game. It is fitting that the Gladiators image towers over anyone who walks through this place.
The Gladiators captures the essence of our game—the tribal rivalry, the selflessness of being a team player, the exhausting heights reached in pursuing sporting excellence and the immense mutual respect that underscores these epic encounters. Our Rugby League heritage is made richer by books such as this, and I hope you all enjoy this insight into one of our game’s defining moments.
John Grant, Chairman
Australian Rugby League Commission
April 2013