Herb Narvo

Rugged Test forward, a fine cricketer and a promising cyclist, also held the Australian heavyweight boxing championship during his rugby league career. In 1945, in only his 13th professional fight, Herb Narvo defeated Billy 'Wocko' Britt in just 23 seconds to win the Australian heavyweight boxing championship. Born in Sydney in 1912 but raised in Newcastle, Narvo signed with Newtown in 1937 and was one of the form forwards in the premiership. Although originally omitted from the 1937-38 Kangaroos he joined the squad when Joe Pearce broke his leg in NZ on the first stop of the tour. Narvo was a major success in England and France and appeared in four Tests. He played for Newcastle Norths on his return in 1938 and although he represented NSW during 1938-41 his Test career was curtailed because of World War II. During the war Narvo served with the RAAF as a physical training, boxing and paratroop instructor. While stationed at Richmond NSW in 1943 he returned to the Newtown club and produced a powerhouse display to help subdue Norths in the grand final. NSW captain in 1945, he joined St George the following year but lost his boxing title to Jack Johnson early in the year (Narvo still led St George in a club match the following day). As captain-coach in 1946, the Dragons were club champions but were pipped in the grand final by Balmain, 13-12. Narvo captain-coached Cootamundra (1947) and Camden (1948) before returning to Newtown. He played in just five more games with the club before quitting Sydney to see out the remainder of his career in Newcastle. Herb Narvo, whose son Frank played for St George and Newtown during the 1950s, passed away from cancer in 1958 at the early age of 45 - a cruel fate for arguably the fittest and toughest player of his era.