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HallOfFame

Herb Narvo

Second row

Inductee
38

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

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38. Herb Narvo - Hall of Fame

Herb Narvo's Hall of Fame Career

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Narvo (extreme right, back row) was a member of the Newtown side that won the 1943 premiership, defeating North Sydney 34-7 in the Grand Final.

Herb Narvo's Hall of Fame Career

2/6
Captain Herb Narvo (right) introduces the NSW team to the Duke of Gloucester prior to the 1945 interstate clash.

Herb Narvo's Hall of Fame Career

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His strength and ability to maintain his efforts over the entire 80 minutes made Narvo a constant threat for opposition defences, as shown in this image from a match against South Sydney at the Sydney Sports Ground.

Herb Narvo's Hall of Fame Career

4/6
Apart from being a champion footballer, Narvo was also heavyweight boxing champion of Australia at one stage in the 1940s.

Herb Narvo's Hall of Fame Career

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Narvo burst on the Sydney premiership with Newtown in 1937 and, although he missed selection initially, he was a late replacement for that year’s Kangaroo tour.

Herb Narvo's Hall of Fame Career

6/6
During the Second World War Narvo worked as a fitness instructor with the RAAF.

Career Stats

Club Career

Club
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

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

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

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

Other Representative
Team Name Opponent Year Start Year End Played Tries Goals Field Goals Points
Newcastle
1936
1941
1936
1941 		1 - - - -

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Keith Holman

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Les Johns

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Stacey Jones

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Edward "Tedda" Courtney

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Herb Steinohrt

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Johnathan Thurston

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Acknowledgement of Country

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.

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