Olsen Filipaina
Encyclopedia
Olsen Orekewa Filipaina is a New Zealand
former rugby league
player who represented both New Zealand
and Western Samoa
.
in the Auckland Rugby League
competition. He was named the best back
in the competition in 1977 before winning the Rothville Trophy as player of the year in 1978. In 1979 he was both the top try-scorer and the top goal-kicker in the competition.
Filipaina moved to Sydney in 1980, joining the Balmain Tigers
. He spent five seasons at the club, playing in 77 games and ammasing 225 points. After a one year spell at the Eastern Suburbs Roosters
in 1985 Filipaina played for two years with the North Sydney Bears
. During his time in the NSWRL Premiership Filipaina claims he suffered from racial abuse and sledging.
In 1990, he captained Ryde-Eastwood to victory in the inaugural Metropolitan Cup final.
representative, Filipaina was part of the Auckland side that defeated Great Britain
, Australia and France
in the space of 20 days in 1977.
Filipaina was first picked for the New Zealand Kiwis in 1977. In 1983 and again in 1985 he was picked for the Kiwis despite playing in the Sydney reserve grade competition, both times inspiring the side to defeats of Australia. He was named the man of the series in 1985.
In total he played in 50 matches for the Kiwis, including 28 tests where he scored 108 points. As of 2010, his 108 points places him sixth on the point scoring list.
In 1988 he captained Western Samoa
in the Pacific Cup
.
. He works the same garbage run the Balmain Tigers
helped him get when he first moved to Australia.
In 2007 he was named one of New Zealand Rugby League
's "Legends of League".
Two of Olsen's brothers, Jerry and Alf
, are involved in politics in Auckland.
His son, Quin, played in the Harold Matthews Cup
side for the Tigers. Another son, John, was arrested in 2006 and charged with robbery.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
former rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player who represented both New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
and Western Samoa
Samoa national rugby league team
-Notable Players & Coaches:* John Ackland * Steve Kaiser Coach 1990 - 1994* Steve Kaiser 1986* Afi Ah Koui 1986* Andrew Ah Koui 1986* George Apelu 1986* Fa'ausu Afoa circa-1995* Wing Afoa 1990 - 1994* Isaak Ah Mau circa-2006...
.
Playing career
Filipaina started his career with the Mangere East HawksMangere East Hawks
The Mangere East Hawks are a rugby league based in Mangere, New Zealand. The Hawks compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition.-History:The club was founded in 1964, before this teams from the area had been attached to the Otahuhu club...
in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition. He was named the best back
Auckland Rugby League club trophies
-Trophies:There are approximately 24 trophies which have been competed for in Auckland Rugby League history by clubs. These include the following for teams; Fox Memorial Shield, Rukutai Shield, Roope Rooster, Stormont Shield, Kiwi Shield, A.R.L Trophy, Sharman Cup, Lawson Cup, Walmsley Shield, ARL...
in the competition in 1977 before winning the Rothville Trophy as player of the year in 1978. In 1979 he was both the top try-scorer and the top goal-kicker in the competition.
Filipaina moved to Sydney in 1980, joining the Balmain Tigers
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
. He spent five seasons at the club, playing in 77 games and ammasing 225 points. After a one year spell at the Eastern Suburbs Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
in 1985 Filipaina played for two years with the North Sydney Bears
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
. During his time in the NSWRL Premiership Filipaina claims he suffered from racial abuse and sledging.
In 1990, he captained Ryde-Eastwood to victory in the inaugural Metropolitan Cup final.
Representative career
An AucklandAuckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
representative, Filipaina was part of the Auckland side that defeated Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
, Australia and France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
in the space of 20 days in 1977.
Filipaina was first picked for the New Zealand Kiwis in 1977. In 1983 and again in 1985 he was picked for the Kiwis despite playing in the Sydney reserve grade competition, both times inspiring the side to defeats of Australia. He was named the man of the series in 1985.
In total he played in 50 matches for the Kiwis, including 28 tests where he scored 108 points. As of 2010, his 108 points places him sixth on the point scoring list.
In 1988 he captained Western Samoa
Samoa national rugby league team
-Notable Players & Coaches:* John Ackland * Steve Kaiser Coach 1990 - 1994* Steve Kaiser 1986* Afi Ah Koui 1986* Andrew Ah Koui 1986* George Apelu 1986* Fa'ausu Afoa circa-1995* Wing Afoa 1990 - 1994* Isaak Ah Mau circa-2006...
in the Pacific Cup
1988 Pacific Cup
-Group 2:-Finals:-Fifth place play off:-Semi Finals:-Third place play off:-Final:-External links:* The Vault...
.
Later years
Filipaina remains in Sydney since his retirement, living in RydeRyde, New South Wales
Ryde is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Ryde is located 13 km north-west of the Sydney central business district and 8 km east of Parramatta. Ryde is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Ryde and part of the Northern Suburbs area...
. He works the same garbage run the Balmain Tigers
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
helped him get when he first moved to Australia.
In 2007 he was named one of New Zealand Rugby League
New Zealand Rugby League
The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....
's "Legends of League".
Personal life
Filipaina is the son of a Samoan boxer.Two of Olsen's brothers, Jerry and Alf
Alf Filipaina
-Political career:Filipaina was a Manukau City Councillor.In the 2010 Auckland Council elections Filipaina was elected from the Manukau ward.-Family:...
, are involved in politics in Auckland.
His son, Quin, played in the Harold Matthews Cup
Harold Matthews Cup
The NSWRL Harold Matthews Cup is a junior rugby league competition played in New South Wales between teams made up of players aged under 16. The competition is administered by the New South Wales Rugby League...
side for the Tigers. Another son, John, was arrested in 2006 and charged with robbery.