The New Zealand Warriors continued their losing streak this week with a 44-22 loss to current premiership title holders Penrith. Long time fans hope that this weekends return by fan favourite Richard Villasanti will see a change of fortunes for the grey and black attack...

The hulking prop made a triumphant return to the competition last year from injury impressing many with his hard playing hard tackling game play. His unrelenting style earned him a Kangaroo jersey and a nickname "Villa the Gorilla".

Among those who felt the wrong side of a Villasanti tackle was Brisbane hard man Shane Webke. After a powerful Villasanti tackle a groggy Webke needed to be escorted off field. Unfortunately the Villasanti return was not to last. In a cruel twist Villasanti was injured again and was unable to return until now.

Realistically Villasanti will need more than a few matches before he returns to his brutal best, but if he displays just a glimpse of his former ferocity with a deft hit up or two, the excitement it would undoubtedly generated could very well re-ignite his team mates fire and desire to win.     

Posted 2nd April, 2004