New Zealand rugby league legend Olsen Filipaina dies aged 64

It has been a shocking week for former rugby league legends after another former star passed away after a battle with illness.

Former New Zealand and Balmain Tigers star Olsen Filipaina has passed away aged just 64.

The Daily Telegraphreported that Filipaina had lost his battle with kidney failure and lupus.

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The New Zealand Herald reported that he was admitted to Westmead Hospital on January 13 for a stomach infection according to his brother and Auckland councillor Alf Filipaina, but once treatment began, his kidneys began to fail.

“It is with a heavy heart, that I inform you that Olsen passed away peacefully in hospital this afternoon,” Alf Filipaina wrote on Facebook.

“He was a fighter and fought for 16 days in ICU but our heavenly father needed a stand-off for his Rugby League Team, and now he has the best.

“His family spoke to him every day to keep his spirits up and is now reunited with mum, dad, younger brother Rae, and all our tupuna who are now looking after him with all their love.

“We would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Westmead hospital for their tireless efforts to keep Olsen alive.

“To you all, our whanau/aiga wish to thank you, for all your love and prayers during what has been a very emotional time, and please know that your comments and calls have been comforting to us.”

A centre or five-eighth, Filipaina was seen as a pioneer for Pacific Islander players in Australia’s top tier rugby league competition and was mourned as a legend by New Zealand, where he played 28 Tests and appeared in two World Cups.

In 1980, when Filipaina made his first grade debut, just 0.5 per cent of players were of Pacific Island descent, while last year, more than half of all players were Polynesian.

Filipaina played 77 matches for the Balmain Tigers between 1980 and 1984, before finishing his career with the Sydney Roosters and North Sydney Bears.

Olsen Filipaina circa 1982. Picture: Geoff/Henderson. Rugby League A/CT sport action

The tributes flowed in after news of his death.

Former Tigers teammate Ben Elias told The Telegraph that he was a “wonderful human being”.

“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.”

Former Kiwi star Dane Sorensen told WWOS: “Olsen was a good player at club level for Balmain but when he pulled on the Kiwi jumper, he became a great player,” Sorensen, now 68, told Wide World of Sports.

“He was a quiet guy off the field but once he got out there in the black and white, he was an inspiration to us all.

“He was big and strong and would run through brick walls for his mates.”

Former Tigers teammate and league legend Garry Jack tweeted: “Very sad to hear this afternoon the passing of Olsen Filipaina. My deepest condolences to his family.

“Olsen was a great family man, I will miss his sense of humour, smile & laughter, that underpins his unbelievable strength & natural ability as a player for Balmain & New Zealand.”

New Zealand Rugby League also said he was “one of the Kiwis’ greatest and most unique players”.

The rugby league community in New Zealand and worldwide is mourning the loss of one of the Kiwis’ greatest and most unique players, a Pasifika and Māori sporting icon and a beloved character. Rest in love Kiwi #529, the great, Olsen Filipaina.
Read more - https://t.co/Mqf2HsPTj8pic.twitter.com/9HIWAd5EVR

— NZ Rugby League (@NZRL_Kiwis) February 10, 2022

Vale Olsen Filipaina - Kiwi #529 thoughts and prayers are with all his friends and family from all of us at @NZRL_Kiwis - #RIPBigO#KiwiLegend

— Greg Peters (@GPRUGBYCEO) February 10, 2022

RIP, Olsen Filipaina. One of the greats https://t.co/tNpI6hpNegpic.twitter.com/2Xi2LkntXf

— paul suttor (@paulsuttor) February 10, 2022