New Zealand rugby league legend Olsen Filipaina dies after battling kidney failure
Rugby league legend Olsen Filipaina has died in Westmead Hospital.
The former Kiwi, Norths, Easts and Balmain champion was 64. Filipaina had been battling kidney failure and lupus while in ICU for the past 17 days.
A true rugby league enigma, Filipaina was an on-field powerhouse with a giant smile.
While he could drift in and out of games, when focused and fit, there were few more damaging players.
Teammates said Filipaina had extraordinary hand-eye coordination through a love for tennis and squash.
Filipaina was twice famously plucked from reserve grade - in 1983 and 1985 - to represent New Zealand in Test matches where he inspired his beloved Kiwis to victory.
He claimed man of series honours in 1985 when marking Australian great Wally Lewis.
“I am devastated, it’s terrible news. I’m really upset,” said former Balmain teammate Garry Jack. “Olsen was a great fellow.
“When he put his mind to it, Olsen was unstoppable. Not too many get over the top of Wally but Olsen did that in 1985.
“Olsen was a very proud Kiwi. Once he pulled on that black and white jersey, my God, he became unstoppable. I’ve never seen a player transform the way he did when playing for his country.
“He was a very easy-going bloke, just a lovely bloke. I’m so sad.”
Filipaina was admitted to hospital on January 13 with a stomach infection before specialists recognised his kidneys had deteriorated.
He had been on a ventilator for the past fortnight and passed away at 3.30pm on Thursday.
“It’s so sad to hear Olsen has passed,” said ex-Tigers teammate Ben Elias. “This is another massive personality who has left us. He was always smiling.
“It was a pleasure to be in the same dressing room with him and a pleasure to socialise with him. Olsen never complained about anything.
“I played with him and against him. Playing against him was horrific. He was a big, powerful unit. He defined the word powerful. You’d look at him and wonder where you should start when trying to tackle him.
“He was all strength, a strong, strong man. On behalf of the rugby league world, I send condolences to his family. He was a wonderful human being.”
Filipaina played 28 Tests for New Zealand and 50 games overall for the Kiwis between 1977 and 1986.
He represented three Sydney clubs – Balmain (77 games), Easts (eight games) and Norths (18 games).
Some knew Filipaina as the ‘Big O’, others called him the ‘Galloping Garbo’ through being a rubbish collector in Sydney during his playing days.
Filipaina captained Ryde-Eastwood to the inaugural Metropolitan Cup final in 1990 and also led Western Samoa in the 1988 Pacific Cup.
Used to play footy with Olsen at Santa Rosa park in Ryde on a Friday afternoon. All the kids used to congregate waiting for him to jump the fence and join in. 20 kids all over him trying to pull him down. Loved watching him play also. Unstoppable and hard defender. Died too young.
Rest in Peace ..Olsen
RIP Olsen Filipaina ...condolensces to his family and friends
Sad news indeed. R.I.P. champion.
