Sport has produced very few worthwhile biographies that are not just PR. But Patrick Skene has written a multi-faceted portrait of pioneer Pasifika rugby league player Olsen Filipaina, exploring his deep Maori/Samoan identity. His closeness to his mother and his wife helped him withstand the setbacks and racist slurs that plagued his career.

Producers: Jennifer Macey and David Roach

Life Sentences is a Two Heads Media production

Music: Blue Dot Sessions

www. carolinebaum.com.au

All the books in this series are available from good bookshops and online.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.