Kiwis rugby league legend Olsen Filipaina has died, age 64.
Filipaina, Kiwi no. 529, had been in ICU in Westmead Hospital, Sydney, since last month due to kidney failure and lost his brave fight on Thursday afternoon, surrounded by family.
A veteran of 29 tests for the Kiwis between 1977-86, Filipaina was inducted as a New Zealand Rugby League Legend of League in 2007.
New Zealand Rugby League has paid tribute to “one of the Kiwis’ greatest and most unique players” and described Filipaina as a “Pasifika and Māori sporting icon”.
He famously, and almost single-handedly, dismantled a Wally Lewis-led Australian team in the 1985 series which cemented him as one the country’s greatest ever players.
He was an icon at the Balmain club and also played for Eastern Suburbs (Roosters) and the North Sydney Bears.
Filipaina was also part of the Auckland team that beat Great Britain, Australia and France in the space of 20 days in 1977.