Rugby league gladiators Norm Provan and Arthur Summons have been immortalised by having the NRL premiership trophy renamed in their honour.
Friday marks the 50th anniversary of the famous 1963 grand final played in a torrential downpour at the SCG, after which Provan and Summons, the rival captains of triumphant St George and vanquished Western Suburbs, were captured by the late photographer John O'Grady.
O'Grady's picture remains the most enduring image in Australian rugby league history and, half a century on, Provan and Summons returned to the very same part of the SCG on Thursday night to learn the NRL grand final winners will forever more receive the Provan-Summons Trophy.
"I don't think you can put into words the emotion that you feel when you're given probably the greatest honours that any two old footballers could get," Summons said.
"Trip in the mud, get a photo taken and this is what happens.
"It's a surreal situation to be honest. I don't think I've ever grasped the importance of the issue.
"I'm extremely honoured. It will sink in later."
Provan missed out on becoming the game's eighth Immortal last year but said the latest tribute was "amazing".
"If I was to drop dead now, I could never complain about the life that rugby league has given me," Provan said.
Summons humbly dedicated the honour to O'Grady.
"Unfortunately the great photographer who took the picture isn't here to share this moment with us because, without him, we'd have been forgotten 50 years ago," he said.
"That poor soul ran up and down the sideline with mud up to nearly his knees.
"He was in a suit and had his pants tucked into his socks. He was an incredible man and it's a pity he wasn't here to enjoy the accolades that rugby league is now giving to Norm and I."
