“I made my admiration for Norm known when we first became aware of his passing.”

Provan, the second-rower known as “Sticks” who won 10 straight premierships with the Red V – four of which came as captain-coach between 1962 and 1965 – was one of the game’s 13 immortals.

He lost his battle with dementia on October 13, and his funeral saw no shortage of stories shared about a giant of a man, with giant hands and a giant heart.

There was the day he arrived at the Sydney Cricket Ground to play in a grand final but was refused entry by a gate attendant because he had left his ticket at home. There were memories about his dedication to fitness and training, the signatures he signed for young kids after any given game, and the lemon squash and orange juice he enjoyed while his teammates opted for something stronger.

The only time Provan would allow himself a drink was the night of a grand final triumph, which consisted of “one or two Moscow Mules”.

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There was other brilliant insight provided by family and friends on Monday, including the day Provan learned Summons had played rugby and represented the Wallabies.

“Stupid game. I’m glad he saw the light,” Provan said.

Former league editor Tony Durkin, who became good friends with Provan, said his mate would have been “captain-coach of Heaven’s XIII”, and was someone who never liked the “gang tackle”, nor players who stayed down for penalties.

It was also revealed how Provan was paid “20 quid” a game, and received another “10 quid” for a win, only for that rate to later jump to “50 quid a game and 20 quid a win”.

Hornby had fond memories of Provan, including the day he chatted with him at a captain’s run before he broke his games record for the Dragons – then 256 games – before Anzac Day in 2012.

“He had that aura, not too dissimilar to Wayne Bennett, they were both tall, that look on their face that commanded respect, and imposing figures, not just physically but with their aura whenever they walk into a room,” Hornby said.

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