The Big O by Patrick Skene is the story of Olsen Filipaina, a New
Zealand Hall of Fame rugby league legend who was a pathfinder for
the Maori and Pasifika players who today dominate the Australian
National Rugby League. In a career that saw him play 29 Tests for
New Zealand and more than 100 first grade NSWRL games, Filipaina
was an object of fascination for the rugby league community. To
fans he was "the Galloping Garbo", a working-class hero who
thrilled crowds in between shifts as a garbageman. To opponents,
who feared his Polynesian power game, he was The Big O. To coaches
and critics, he was simply "Olsen the enigma". Featured in the book
are some of the pivotal figures of 1980s Australia and New Zealand
sport including Sir Graham Lowe, Arthur Beetson, Roy Masters, Sir
Peter Leitch, David Tua, Sir Bryan Williams, Wayne Pearce, Sir
Michael Jones, John Ribot, Mark Graham, David Lange and NRL
Immortal Wally Lewis who for the first time opens up about being
outplayed by Filipaina in the 1985 Test series. The Big O tracks
Olsen's story from his rise out of working-class South Auckland, to
overcoming depression, racism and cultural dislocation in Sydney,
to the Cinderella story of his success for the New Zealand Kiwis.
Forty years after Filipaina burst into Australian rugby league,
Skene relates the tale of a humble and principled man, a dynamic
and magical pioneer of the 'Pacific Revolution'. The Big O' is a
timely story of resilience, redemption, bravery and love. To
understand Olsen's story is to understand the cultural changes that
have reshaped the game of rugby league.
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