Ron Coote and Norm Provan have been named the Second-Rowers for the Rugby League Team of the Century.

The final nominations for the second row included: Vic Armbruster, Harry Bath, Arthur Beetson, Frank Burge, Arthur Clues, Bradley Clyde, Ron Coote, Brian Davies, Brian Hambly, Bob McCarthy, Herb Narvo, Kel O’Shea, Sid ‘Joe’ Pearce, Norm Provan and George Treweek.

Notes on the Second-Rowers of the Century

Ron COOTE

Clubs: South Sydney 1964–71; Eastern Suburbs 1972–78
Club landmarks: Won premierships with Souths 1967–68, 1970–71; Won premierships with Easts 1974–75
Games for NSW: 15 (1965–75)
Tests for Australia: 13 (1967–74)
World Cup matches: 10 (1968–75) — three as captain
Representative landmarks: Kangaroo tour 1967–68; World Cups 1968, 1970; Captained Australia to World Cup win 1970; World Series 1975

From his debut with South Sydney in 1964, the rangy Coote was hailed as the heir apparent to the great Johnny Raper as a lock. A tall and gifted athlete, Coote possessed many of Raper’s qualities — he was a superb cover-defender and fast and powerful with the ball in hand – but when he made the Test side it was as second-rower, with Raper having a mortgage on the lock jersey.

He captained Australia in the 1970 World Cup, twice won the Harry Sunderland Medal (best in a series against Great Britain)  and played in nine grand finals in the space of 11 seasons with Souths and Easts (winning six times).

Norm PROVAN

Club: St George 1951–65
Club landmarks: Won premierships with St George 1956–65; Captained St George to premiership wins 1962–65
Appearances for NSW: 25 (1954–61)
Tests: 14 (1954–60)
World Cup matches: Four (1954–57)
Representative landmarks: Kangaroo tour 1956–57; World Cups 1954, 1957

Provan was a giant of the game in every respect. Apart from his imposing stature (he stood 193cm), Provan was a towering figure for St George in their record run of premiership wins and for Australia in 18 Test and World Cup appearances.

He played in 10 of St George’s 11 successive grand final victories, the last four as captain-coach. He bowed out in 1965, when the Dragons triumphed 12–8 over Souths in front of a record 78,056 spectators.