Is Willie Ripia a villain or a Villasanti?

 
ceriseblood Roar Pro

By , 13 Jan 2012 ceriseblood is a Roar Pro

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The resignation of Western Force fly-half Willie Ripia after allegedly stealing from teammates brings back memories of another player whose career was hampered by accusations of having light fingers in the locker room.

Sadly, Ripia’s career is not destined for great things from here on out if Richard Villasanti’s story is anything to go by.

After beginning his career with Balmain in 1999, Villasanti played for the newly-merged Wests Tigers in 2000 before moving to the New Zealand Warriors for the 2001 season.

It was at the Warriors that ‘Villa’ started to make a name for himself as a hard-running, big-haired prop forward.

His breakout season was 2002, in which he helped lead the Warriors to the minor premiership and their first grand final berth but, in that game, was perhaps best remembered for his sickening head-clash with Brad Fittler.

Despite losing the grand final 30-8 and nursing a hell of a headache the following day, it’s surely the 2003 end-of-season Villa looks back on with most regret.

After completing a stunning NRL season with the Warriors and reminding as many Australians who would listen that (despite playing for the sole Kiwi side) he still called Australia home, Villa was picked for the end of season Kangaroo tour.

His international debut was played against New Zealand, making him the first Warrior to play for the Aussies against the New Zealand national side.

He then travelled to Britain but failed to pick up another cap during the tour. And though props the likes of Shane Webcke, Petero Civoniceva, Robbie Kearns and Joel Clinton were in the Ashes squad, a far juicier story emerged as to why Villa didn’t get another run.

Towards the end of the tour, Australian players complained their rooms had been rifled through and over $5000, a camera and Trent Waterhouse’s Test jersey were reported stolen.

The ARL conducted an investigation into the thefts but, after failing to find a culprit from within the ranks of the squad, closed the investigation and refunded cash to the players who reported any stolen.

However, by the time the squad returned victorious from England at the end of November, the rumour had become news and (despite a complete lack of evidence) the story persisted that a member of the touring squad was to blame.

The Sydney Morning Herald published an article on December 12, 2003, in which Jacquelin Magnay and Roy Masters reported that the alleged thief (who could not be named for legal reasons) had been accused of stealing from a previous NRL club (which could not be named either, because that may have identified the player).

The quote regarding the unnamed player, from an unnamed official of an unnamed club, said that the player accused of stealing from his teammates, “has a problem everywhere he goes, he grabs stuff, he can’t help himself.”

The unnamed player’s unnamed manager was also quoted in the story saying, “He is suspect No.1 without any evidence against him.”

And that was the truth, there was no evidence. However, Magnay and Masters reached their own conclusion as to whether a lack of evidence would mean a lack of identification or reprisal.

“He will be sorted out, despite the remote possibility in the minds of some he may be innocent. The dressing room universe of verbal darts, heavy sarcasm and ridicule is quadrupled on the playing field, where the men across the line are not teammates but enemies.

“Radio will be almost as unsubtle. He will be riddled with holes from talkback radio pot shots and commentators won’t be able to resist the temptation to say: ‘Kangaroo X is having a set-to with Kangaroo Y. Wonder what that is all about?’”

So, having never being named as an official suspect, Villa was the man no one officially pointed their finger at. And that was enough.

Villa’s representative career was finished – he never again donned an Australian jersey and come State of Origin time he was about as popular with the NSW selectors as the present NSW selectors are with the public.

His time at the Warriors after the Kangaroo tour was seemingly as unhappy, he left the New Zealand club mid-way through the 2006 season to join Cronulla and said of the Warriors, “I probably stayed there maybe two years too long.”

He saw out the season with the Sharks before leaving the NRL to join UK Super League team Harlequins, in an ill-fated move which saw Villa retire from the game altogether without playing a single game for the London-based club.

Despite keeping his head down and mouth closed in the immediate aftermath of the theft allegation, Villa did address the rumours in August 2006 after joining the Sharks.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Villa categorically denied being the thief but had an idea as to why his teammates suspected him.

“I didn’t spend that much time with the team. They were acquaintances – I didn’t know many players.

“I didn’t feel comfortable being around them because I was the only out-of-town guy, being from Auckland.”

Which brings us back to Western Force fly-half Willie Ripia, the out-of-town-guy, being from (just south of) Auckland.

While the stories in the papers report he was caught on CCTV stealing from his team-mates, the tape has not been made public, no charges have been laid and therefore (despite his resignation from the team) he is innocent until proven guilty.

But, as Richard Villasanti said to the Telegraph just months before his career as a professional footballer ended at the practically pre-pubescent prop age of 27, “mud sticks”.

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