Born: December 3, 1879 - Tauranga
Died: January 8, 1965 - Auckland
Test record: 1 Test (1910) - 0 points
Tours: 1913 tour of Australia
Arapeta Paurini Wharepapa, or Albert 'Opai' Asher as he was more commonly known, stands as one of the most revered pioneering figures in New Zealand and Māori rugby league.
The Tauranga product moved to Auckland and found fame as a rugby union player with the City club, scoring 17 tries in 11 matches on New Zealand's 1903 tour of Australia. He scored a try in the historic one-off Test against Australia, a 22-3 win at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Asher turned down an offer to tour with the 'All Golds' in 1907-08 due to injury, but the gifted three-quarter captained New Zealand Māori's trailblazing 1908 tour of Australia - which was credited as financially rescuing the fledgling NSWRL - and scored 12 tries in 13 games. In the tour closer against Metropolis, he scored four tries in a 32-17 win.
A freakish attacker famous for hurdling defenders, 'Opai' was equally influential on the 1909 Māori tour across the Tasman despite not being captain. In the opening three games, he scored a try in a 24-21 win over NSW, three tries in a 14-11 victory over NSW and two tries in a 16-14 defeat of Australia in front of 30,000 at the RAS Showground, playing opposite the great Dally Messenger.
Asher's tour tally of 15 tries in just 10 games included a five-try haul in a 36-25 win over Queensland and he dotted down in two subsequent losses to Australia.
Brother Ernie was part of both Māori squads, teaming up with Albert in the centres or outside him on the wing.
The duo featured on the wings in New Zealand Māori's 29-0 loss to the 1910 Northern Union tourists in Nelson, before teaming up in the centres for New Zealand in the one-off Test - a 52-20 loss at the Domain in Auckland.
'Opai' played for New Zealand again on the 1913 tour of Australia, appearing in six games. He scored a double in a 32-6 win over Queensland and crossed again in the tour-closing win at Orange.
Asher continued playing for Auckland until 1915 and the City Rovers club until 1917. He was Carlaw Park's custodian from 1921-45 and passed away in 1965, aged 85.
Albert 'Opai' Asher's enormous legacy was underlined when he inducted to the NZRL Legends of League in 2008.