#THROWBACKTHURSDAY - HERB NARVO: FROM NEWCASTLE TO NEWTOWN
Each Thursday, during the season, thanks to CRYO Sydney, westep back in time to bring you a story from our rich history. Because thisweek's game is against Newcastle,we are going to share the story of one of our greatest players, a member of our1943 Grand Final winning team who hailed from the Hunter.
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HERB NARVO: FROM NEWCASTLE TO NEWTOWN
You could say that Herb Narvo wasthe original Marrickville Mauler.
In 1943, almost 41 years before Jeff Fenech made his name atthe 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, the former Newtown and Test forwardknocked out Billy 'Wokko' Britt to claim the Australian heavyweight boxingcrown. By the way, did we mention the bout only last 23 seconds?
Born in Ultimo on 19 August 1912, Hermann Olaf (Herb) Narvo was raised in Newcastlewhere he cut his teeth with the Northern Suburbs (fittingly nicknamed theBluebags) before joining Newtownin 1937. An instant success in Sydney, Narvo quickly earned a reputation as one of the mostdamaging forwards in the premiership.
"He was a punishing defender in his own right but wasmore noted for this explosive runs through the ruck," wrote noted Newtown historian TerryWilliams in his book Out of the Blue.
"He created numerous tries for his outside backs bysplitting the line after a crab-like run, and linking up with his speedmerchants."
Initially a controversial omission from the1937-1938Kangaroos squad, Narvo received a belatedcall-up when Easts' Joe Pearce broke his leg during a tour match in NZ. Heproved a revelation, playing four Tests, two each against Great Britainand France, whom he tormented with his attacking play from around therucks.
Upon returning to Australia in 1938, Narvo moved back to Norths Newcastle but continuedto play representative football from the bush. WW2 prevented Narvo earning from building upon his four Test capsbut that doesn't mean he stopped representing his country. A member of theRAAF, Narvo spent the war as aphysical trainer and a boxing and paratroop instructor.
It was during this period that he experienced the crowningachievements of his sporting career. In 1943, while stationed with the RAAF in Richmond, not only did Narvo becomeAustralia's heavyweightboxing champion, he also returned to Newtown andplayed a starring role in the Bluebags' crushing Grand Final 34-7 win over North Sydney.
After captaining NSW in 1945, Narvo joinedSt George in 1946 as captain-coach, leading them to a narrow 13-12 grand finalloss to Balmain. Going back to the bush in 1948, he played consecutive seasonswith the Cootamundra and Camden before having athird and final stint with Newtownin 1949.
Moving back to the HunterValley, Narvo sadlypassed away in 1958 aged just 45, however, his legacy was carried on at Henson Parkby his son Frank, who played 97 first grade games for the club between 1954 and1960.
A keen cricket player and cyclist, Herb's legendary statusin rugby league has also been acknowledged by his naming in both Newtown's and the NewcastleRugby League's teams of the century as well asthe National Rugby League's Hall of Fame.