The former Kangaroos captain and coach is immortalised in the iconic photo with rival Norm Provan that is depicted in the NRL premiership trophy.

Summons, who underwent major surgery in 2018 to remove cancer from his mouth, died on Saturday night.

He played 10 rugby union Tests for the Wallabies between 1954-59 as a fly-half before making the switch to the paid ranks of league with Western Suburbs in 1960.

He quickly made his mark in the 13-man code, earning a call-up for the first of his nine Tests with the Kangaroos in 1961.

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He was undefeated in five Tests as Kangaroos skipper, and coached the country to their first Ashes win on Great Britain soil while injured in 1963.

After the last of Wests' three straight grand final losses to St George in 1963, he was photographed embracing equally mud-spattered rival skipper Provan at the SCG.

The image was used to sculpture the Winfield Cup trophy in 1982, before the prize was renamed the Provan-Summons trophy on the 50th anniversary of the photo.

The diminutive halfback finished with 27 games for the Kangaroos, 67 matches for the Magpies, and seven games for NSW, before retiring in 1964.

"Arthur epitomised everything that rugby league stands for - he was a talented player, a fierce competitor, a wonderful character and extremely popular with everyone," said ARLC chair Peter V'landys.

"His importance to the game continued - and was immortalised - after his retirement as a player when he became the face of our premiership, along with Norm Provan, and he embraced the responsibility which came with that.

"Arthur's memory and legacy will live on in bronze for all of us to celebrate."

Wests Tigers also paid tribute.

"On behalf of all at Wests Tigers, I'd like to send my condolences to Arthur's family. We have lost a true giant of rugby league," Tigers boss Justin Pascoe said.

"Arthur was a wonderful man and player in his time and helped us all celebrate our great game for what makes it the best.

"He epitomises the importance what our game expects on and off the field and he will be remembered for that."

In retirement, Summons ran a local leagues club with wife Pam in Wagga Wagga, where they raised their children, David, Gillian, Janine and Kellie.

A private service for Summons will be held in Wagga Wagga this week.

* Rugby union Test debut for the Wallabies against Wales in 1958

* 10 rugby union caps for the Wallabies (1956-59)

* Switched to rugby league in 1960, making Western Suburbs debut in 1960

* 67 games for the Magpies, 13 tries (1960-64)

* 4 City-Country games

* 7 games for NSW

* Rugby league Test debut for the Kangaroos against New Zealand in 1961; played nine Tests

* 27 rugby league games for the Kangaroos, eight tries (1961-64)