Norm Provan funeral snub poor form from NRL: Phil Rothfield

One of the NRL’s greatest was farewelled on Monday. But someone was missing at the funeral, writes Phil Rothfield.

The great Norm Provan was farewelled in a service at the funeral home of Gregson and Weight on the Sunshine Coast on Monday but not one person from the NRL turned up.

Independent commissioners Megan Davis and Kate Jones both live in Queensland and at least one of them should have been there.

Or Graham Annesley, Anthony Abdo’s deputy, who lives on the Gold Coast.

Norm Provan, a second row forward who played for the St George Dragons rugby league club. He also represented both NSW and Australia. Pictured with others including family.

The border closure obviously ruled out the likes of Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo but to have no-one there was seriously poor form.

Around 100 turned up to support Provan’s family and honour the immortal.

It was a nice touch that old super coach Wayne Bennett turned up.

He drove from Warwick to Brisbane (160km) to pick up his partner and then travelled to Caloundra (another 90km) to pay his respects. It was a long day by the time he got home.

The Provan family was rapt to see the coaching legend there.

The funeral was streamed live into St George Leagues Club at Kogarah where Dragons players, officials and supporters gathered for the memorial service.

Among them were family members of fellow Immortals and old St George teammates Johnny Raper and Reg Gasnier.

The Dragons will honour the legendary captain coach at their first home came of 2022 when the western grandstand will be officially unveiled as the Norm Provan stand.