Herb Narvo
Second row
Player Bio
- Inducted:
- 2008
- Date of Birth:
- 19 August 1912
- Birthplace:
- Ultimo, NSW
- Nickname:
- -
- Debut Team:
- Country Firsts
- Date:
- 09 May 1936
- Opposition:
- City Firsts
- Venue:
- Sydney Cricket Ground, NSW
- Representative:
- Country, City, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Clubs:
- Norths Newcastle, Newtown, St George, Cootamundra, Camden
Career
Milestones
- Premiership: 1943
- Kangaroo Tour: 1937-38
- NSW Country Team of the Century: 2008
- Rated No. 28 in Rugby League Week’s Top 100 players: 1992
Playing
- First Class Games
- 121
- Points
- 188
- Tries
- 52
Biography
Herb Narvo was a grand second-rower, in the words of that great Easts stalwart Dick Dunn, ''almost unstoppable from 20 metres out, a grim tackler and a player of great endurance''.
Luck got him into the 1937–38 Kangaroo squad after he was originally omitted, and wrongly so according to most pundits of the time.
When Joe Pearce broke a leg in a Test in New Zealand en route to England, Narvo got the call, and he belatedly set off on what would be for him a successful campaign.
During his career, Narvo played for a variety of teams, and in the midst of the football and with earlier sporting loves, cricket and cycling, set aside, he also pursued a successful boxing career.
In April 1943 he brought off the fastest knockout win in an Australian title fight, felling the reigning champion, ''Wokka'' Billy Britt, in a mere 25 seconds.
As with many players of his time, the war cut into his league career, but he played four Tests and 18 tour games for Australia and 12 times for NSW.
In Sydney, he won a premiership with Newtown and went close, as captain-coach, to steering St George to victory in 1946.
“Many said he was the finest leader they have ever played with.”
Horrie Maher Long-time St George official
38. Herb Narvo - Hall of Fame
Career Stats
Club Career
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Newcastle | Newcastle Rugby League |
1932
1938
1949 |
1936
1942
1949 |
- | - | - | - | - |
| North Newcastle | State Championship | 1941 | 1941 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Newtown Bluebags | Premiership |
1937
1943
1949 |
1937
1945
1949 |
48 | 15 | 7 | - | 59 |
| Newtown Bluebags | City Cup | 1937 | 1937 | 7 | 6 | - | - | 18 |
| Newtown Bluebags | State Championship | 1944 | 1945 | 6 | - | - | - | - |
| Southern Suburbs Brisbane | Brisbane Club Competition | 1944 | 1944 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| St George | Premiership | 1946 | 1946 | 13 | 3 | 8 | - | 25 |
| Cootamundra | Group 9 Competition | 1947 | 1947 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Camden | Group 6 Competition | 1948 | 1948 | - | - | - | - | - |
Representative Career
City - Country
| Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country Firsts | City Firsts |
1936
1938
1941 |
1936
1939
1941 |
4 | 3 | 1 | - | 11 |
| City Seconds | Country Seconds | 1937 | 1937 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| Country | City | 1940 | 1940 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Sydney | Country |
1937
1944 |
1937
1945 |
3 | - | - | - | - |
State
| Team Name | Competition | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Interstate Series | Queensland |
1938
1941
1945 |
1939
1941
1945 |
11 | 10 | - | - | 30 |
| New South Wales | Touring Teams | 1938 | 1938 | 2 | 3 | - | - | 9 |
International
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Tests | 1937 | 1938 | 4 | 2 | - | - | 6 |
| Australia | Tour Matches | 1937 | 1938 | 17 | 8 | - | - | 24 |
Other Representative
| Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle |
1936
1941 |
1936
1941 |
1 | - | - | - | - |
Hall of Fame Members
National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
