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The NSWRL is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of True Blue, two-time premiership winner and Test forward Gary Stevens.

Stevens, 81, was one of the South Sydney Rabbitohs greatest forwards at a time when the club was brimming with talent in that department.

He made his first-grade debut in 1965 as a 21-year-old and racked up 186 games in the famous cardinal red and myrtle green jersey. He won the 1970-71 Premierships alongside fellow True Blues John Sattler, Bob McCarthy, Eric Simms, Michael Cleary, Paul Sait, John O’Neill, and Ron Coote, with the team coached by Clive Churchill.

The back-rower was renowned as being extremely fit and not one to miss a tackle. He also captained the Rabbitohs 25 times.

"When he hit them, they stayed hit," Coote told nine.com.au today.

"It was a tough era and plenty of stuff went on out on the field, but Gary never shirked it and gave as good as he got.

"He was a great servant for South Sydney and I'm glad I played with him rather than against him."

Stevens played six games for NSW (1972-75) and 11 games for Australia including the 1972 World Cup and the 1973-74 Ashes series against Great Britain.

Born in the inner southern Sydney suburb of Pagewood, Stevens was a product of several clubs in the Souths Juniors nursery.

He had Rabbitohs royalty in his genes being the grandson of Arthur Oxford, who played 76 first grade games for South Sydney (1915-1921) including the 1918 Premiership. Oxford also won the NSWRL Premiership in 1923 with the Eastern Suburbs Roosters and was a True Blue (22 games) and Test player.

The NSWRL extends its condolences to Stevens’ family, friends, colleagues and teammates.