He remained with the club when they merged to become the Wests Tigers the next season and made a number of appearances in the team towards the end of the year.
He gained a level of infamy for a tackle made in the game, a "head-first hit, which left Fittler bloodied and bandaged.
"[3] At the end of the 2003 NRL season Villasanti had gained a reputation as a big-hitting impact player, and became the first New Zealand based player to be chosen to represent Australia at the end of the year, though he was to make only one test appearance[4] on the 2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, helping Australia to victory over Great Britain in what would be the last time the two nations contested an Ashes series.
An investigation by the Australian Rugby League (ARL) did not determine who the thief was but Villasanti claims other teammates blamed him for the stolen items.
In February 2007, he secured a release from Cronulla, signing a two-year deal with Harlequins RL but never played a first-grade game for the London-based club.