“You sure know the way to a Polynesian’s heart,” said Olsen Filipaina, eyeing a large pile of grilled Greek lamb chops. I had finally enticed the legend of Australian and New Zealand rugby league to commit to a story about his life for the Guardian Australia in their “Forgotten story of” series.
“Why would anybody be interested after 35 years?” So the journey began. It turns out that a lot of fans are still interested in a cult hero who became one of the most lovable figures in rugby league. However, beyond the stories and statistics lies an impact and legacy still felt today as the “Pacific Revolution” culturally disrupts rugby league across the world. Today the NRL boasts 46% of its players with Pasifika/Māori background.
