BEARS BANTER – The Official Bears Podcast
New Zealand rugby league legend and ex-North Sydney Bears player, Olsen Filipaina, sits down with Greg Florimo to banter about footy in the 1970’s and 80’s, overcoming racism to play a game he loves.
Olsen Filipaina’s fascinating life story has now been released in a book, The Big O. Grab your copy now: thebigo.kiwi
- Full Name: Olsen Orekewa Filipaina
- Born: Tuesday, 23rd April, 1957
Biography
Burly Kiwi International centre/five-eighth, the son of a Samoan heavyweight boxer, was one of five brothers to play for East Mangere in Auckland. Filipaina first came to prominence when he played for NZ in the three-Test series in Australia in 1978. Joining Balmain in 1980 his form during his five seasons with the Tigers was largely inconsistent and he was reduced to being a lower grade player with Easts and Norths. Filipaina undoubtedly reserved his best for the Test arena and he proved to be a major factor in NZ’s upset wins over Australia in Brisbane in 1983 and in Carlaw Park in the Third Test in 1985. When his Test career ended in 1986, he had the second highest points total in Tests for NZ (6t, 44g – 108pts). In 1990 he captained Ryde-Eastwood to victory in the inaugural Metropolitan Cup competition.
Career Statistics
All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player’s career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.
To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the 
icon.
International |
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Test Matches – By Team |
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| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| New Zealand | 1977-82, 1984-86 | 28 | 6 | 44 | – | 108 | 10 | 17 | 1 | 35.71% | |
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| Overall | 1977-1986 | 28 | 6 | 44 | 0 | 108 | 10 | 17 | 1 | 35.71% | |
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World Cup Matches – By Team |
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| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| New Zealand | 1977, 1985-86 | 6 | – | 8 | – | 16 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 33.33% | |
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| Overall | 1977-1986 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 33.33% | |
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Club Career |
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Australian League Matches – By Year |
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| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| Balmain | NSWRFL 1980 | 17 | 5 | 3 | – | 21 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 35.29% | |
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| Balmain | NSWRFL 1981 | 17 | 5 | 4 | – | 23 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 29.41% | |
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| Balmain | NSWRFL 1982 | 23 | 7 | 21 | – | 63 | 8 | 14 | 1 | 34.78% | |
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| Balmain | NSWRFL 1983 | 12 | – | 30 | – | 60 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 58.33% | |
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| Balmain | NSWRL 1984 | 12 | 2 | 25 | – | 58 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 41.67% | |
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| Eastern Suburbs | NSWRL 1985 | 8 | – | 21 | – | 42 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 37.50% | |
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| North Sydney | NSWRL 1986 | 17 | 2 | 24 | / | 28 | 85.71% | – | 56 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 41.18% | |
| North Sydney | NSWRL 1987 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | |
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| Overall | 1980-1987 | 107 | 21 | 128 | 0 | 323 | 42 | 62 | 3 | 39.25% | |
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Australian League Matches – By Team |
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| Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| Balmain | 1980-84 | 81 | 19 | 83 | – | 225 | 31 | 48 | 2 | 38.27% | |
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| Eastern Suburbs | 1985 | 8 | – | 21 | – | 42 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 37.50% | |
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| North Sydney | 1986-87 | 18 | 2 | 24 | / | 28 | 85.71% | – | 56 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 44.44% | |
| Overall | 1980-1987 | 107 | 21 | 128 | 0 | 323 | 42 | 62 | 3 | 39.25% | |
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