Fa’atonu Fili to reach 200-game milestone in Premier rugby on Saturday

This Saturday Marist St Pat's first five-eighth Fa'atonu Fili plays his 200th Wellington Premier club rugby match when he runs out on to Lyndhurst Park to face Tawa in round one of the Jubilee Cup.

Heading into Saturday's match, he has played 181 matches for MSP and 18 for Oriental-Rongotai, whom he played for in 2013.

He made his Premier debut for MSP at the tail-end of 2001, famously coming off the bench in that year's Jubilee Cup semi-final against Poneke at Westpac Stadium and potting the first of many dropped goals of his career in a winning effort.

Heading into Saturday's match, Fili said he's it's a big achievement. "Bringing up 200 games has come by so fast, I'm so fortunate to play, so to get to 200 is something i truly have to give God glory for," he said.

He said there have been many great players he's played with "There have been so many guys I've played with and respected along my journey, they've all been great team mates."

"When I first started at MSP, guys like Kas Lealamanua, Trent eagle, Norm Broughton Lome Fa'atau, Apoua Stewart Reece Potuwera, Joe Wright, Chris Slade, Sio Tuia, Saina Mekaio, Dan Scanlon JP Tocker stand out. And obviously the new breed now, for example Josh Toomaga, Ryan Setefano, Matt Peni, Isaiah Petelo and my partner Peter Sciascia of course. And Paulo Aukuso and Whetu Henry from my time at Ories."

Respected opposition players have included the Moananus and Evan Belford from Poneke, Nick Risdon Ben Aoina, John Monu, James Sooialo, Seminar Manu, Cam Incledon, Eugene Smith, Tau Mamea. "All great club legends and it's been an honour to battle against those brothers."

And opposition teams? "Definitely Poneke and Oreies are always a tough grind to play against as it's the battle of the east. And HOBM always seem to be entertaining seasaw games for us."

In 2014, Club Rugby correspondent Jack Biggs chatted with Fili on the eve of his 150th match. Two years on and 50 matches later, here it is below:

Flyhalf Fa'atonu Fili has been a standout performer for MSP over his 14 years in the top grade having also had a brief stint with Oriental-Rongotai.

Most kids in our part of the world get brought up in a rugby environment from a young age; Fa'atonu Fili is no exception to that.

"My old man took me to down to play Marist's under-5's and in my first game I was supposed to meet my cousin who's now an actor on Shortland Street, Pua Magasiva, his family were supposed to bring my boots but they didn't so I had to play in bare feet," laughed Fili.

27 years later Fili is set to embark on a noted milestone against Wainuiomata on Saturday, but he can still remember his first call-up to the MSP premiers in 2001.

"Yeah I got called up during the 2001 season, we played Wests and we had to win that game to make the semi's and we did.

"We ended up making the fourth position so we played Petone at the stadium who were ranked one and I don't think we thought we were going to win but we were lucky enough to do it."

Fili rates his premier highlights as the times he has reached the finals, having collected an impressive four titles in 13 seasons and still a chance to make that a full-hand in 2014.

Many tight contests for both MSP and the Wellington Lions have been decided by his accurate boot. His drop-goal radar is tremendous and he puts that skill down to his father.

"That's my old man bro, starting out in the prems he always use to tell me to try a drop kick because it's easy points, but my practice is always worse than in the games," remembers Fili.

From then on Fili seemed destined to eventually crack the Samoan national side which he achieved in 2002.

"It was awesome, I was just thankful to be in the team. We toured South Africa and Australia which was pretty cool but my first Test against Ireland in Apia, it was pretty hot, looking back now I was pretty nervous and made a few mistakes at fullback but it wasn't too bad" said Fili.

Fili has had many opportunities and experiences in rugby worldwide and upon leaving a stint in France was approached by the Australian domestic competition.

"The ARC comp, I played for the Western Sydney Rams, I was on my way home from France and my agent asked me if I was keen to play in the comp and I didn't think too much of it but gave it a go.

"When I arrived I thought I was playing 10 but there was a young guy called Kurtley Beale there" said Fili.

He played alongside some of Australia's finest in the former ARC competition. He lined up alongside; Lachlan Turner, Lachlan Mitchell, Rory Sidey and front row forwards Tatafu Polota-Nau and Benn Robinson.

He finally made his way back to the Wellington scene and bolstered an impressive 2008 MSP side which went on to share the Jubilee Cup with Norths.

"We didn't want to share it but from that season I got picked for the Lions, I was always in those training groups but I was never what they were looking for so to play in the team was something I dreamed of, my story has always been starting late and having to wait sometimes."

Although he has been a fantastic servant to the MSP club his brief stint with Ories was something he always wanted to try out.

"My old man and my brothers played at Ories, so I'd always wanted to have a go there.

"I also wanted to challenge myself because I got too comfortable at Marist, it was pretty good, different scenery but some talented players keep coming out of there."

Now, in 2014, Fili keeps producing the same magic at the age of 32, playing a huge hand in their recent Swindale Shield triumph.

"This whole season has been quite tight and just to be in contention for the Swindale was great for us because we probably lost a few games we should have won."

The Jubilee Cup looks a far reach but not impossible as the strong competition goes into its final two weeks of round-robin.

"It would be special to win; every Jubilee has been special for me but just to help out the young guys coming up in the club is cool because I see a lot of myself in them".