NRL: Filipo's belated debut worth the wait

Marvin Filipo of the Knights makes a break. Photo / Getty Images

When Marvin Filipo played a trial match for the New Zealand Warriors against St George Illawarra in 2004 he never imagined it would take another seven years to celebrate his National Rugby League (NRL) debut.

As a teenager Filipo was in the same Junior Kiwis team as Issac Luke, Simon Mannering and Frank-Paul Nuuausala in 2004-05 and assumed he was on track for a smooth progression to first grade.

Yet as that trio built careers as professional footballers - and fully-fledged internationals - Filipo languished in Brisbane club rugby, and then park football while concreting, plumbing and labouring.

Filipo had been included in the Warriors senior squad in 2006 but the 19-year-old never made a match day 17.

At the end of that season the outside back made an unwise career move. His agent demanded an upgrade, the Warriors wouldn't budge, so he headed for the Brisbane Broncos feeder club.

But he never fitted in so Filipo switched codes for six months before homesickness hastened his return to Otara.

"I blame myself for leaving the Warriors. Back then I wasn't worried about the money, I just wanted a shot at playing," he told NZPA.

Filipo took a break from football in south Auckland until his agent said a country club in New South Wales had vacancies.

So he joined the Nelson Bay Northern Blues, but it was a painful experience because Filipo broke his jaw and popped a shoulder.

The Blues still supported him so Filipo felt he owed them another season in 2009 although he had moved to Sydney and joined a courier firm.

"I did it hard. I caught the train, three hours every Saturday so I could pay them back."

That dedication was rewarded with selection in a NSW country side, an accolade that piqued the Newcastle Knights interest.

Making the Central Coast Centurions in last year's NSW Cup was the move Filipo had been yearning for since exiting the Warriors and so was a positional switch to the second row.

"I thought this is my last crack so I'll give it a big go and it was the best season I've had in the last five years," he said.

His coach Rip Taylor issued encouraging updates to Knights counterpart Rick Stone and when one-test Kiwi Zeb Taia and Cory Paterson succumbed to injury Filipo was finally earmarked for promotion.

Filipo was 18th man against the Canberra Raiders and Melbourne Storm and when Paterson couldn't complete training two weeks ago his debut was set for last Sunday -- ironically against the Warriors.

"Man, I almost broke down, I almost cried. I called my sister in Sydney and said 'things might just be looking up for me'," he said.

For Filipo, who turned 24 in March, it was a massive turnaround after the part-time jobs and a sentence to 300 hours community service following an altercation outside a Newcastle kebab shop in late 2008.

"I've come a long way and I'm just happy to be here," he said.

"I never thought of playing for the Knights. I just wanted enough money to support my family."

He signed an incentive-based contract last month and can now wire money back to mum, dad and his five-year-old son Malachi.

"When I was 15 until I left New Zealand I was always helping my family out. For a couple of years I couldn't but now I've got enough to live on and send some (money) back."

Filipo is naturally keen for his stocks to rise even further in 2011 considering the legendary Wayne Bennett replaces Stone as head coach.

Still, if he doesn't figure in Bennett's plans Filipo will always have fond memories of his 48 minutes against the Warriors at Ausgrid Stadium.

"It was a dream come true for me, the best feeling in the world," said Filipo, who made an offload, line break, three tackle busts and 106m of go forward.

The Knights were overtaken in the last seven minutes to lose 16-25 but Filipo was still satisfied, especially after Mannering and assistant coach Tony Iro caught up after the game.

"I'm proud they recognised me," he said.

Now Filipo is looking forward to reacquainting with Nuuausala, another old mate, after Stone retained him on the interchange bench for tomorrow's match against the Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium.

- NZPA