League: Kicking the chicken bucket

The Warriors' human wrecking ball Iafeta Paleaaesina has always been a sucker for fast food but he's dropped his beloved KFC to lose the tag of the six-minute man.

Paleaaesina won the players' player award after last weekend's loss to the Cowboys and hopes his new diet can help him back that up today as the Warriors search for their first home win of 2005, against the Rabbitohs.

The massive prop has always made a colossal impact for the Warriors but in the past few seasons he admits his eating habits didn't help his stamina or his career.

Former Warriors and current Kiwis coach Daniel Anderson struggled to control Paleaaesina's diet as the big front-rower would often sneak the odd fried-chicken bucket during the week.

But that all changed after living with team-mate Monty Betham.

"I liked to indulge in a bit of eating and used to eat anything I could get my hands on," says the 23-year-old. "I've learned from Monty and I've been here for a while so it's about time I took all parts of my league seriously, and that includes my eating."

Although Paleaaesina has played 62 games for the Warriors, he was considered something of a one-hit-wonder but his new fitness and diet have changed that. He lost 7kg in the first two-and-a-half weeks of pre-season training, dropping down to 108kg, and he's keen to keep sacrificing the fatty food for fitness.

His rampaging runs were a high point of the Warriors' loss to the Cowboys and it didn't escape the attention of coach Tony Kemp.

"I take my hat off to Feka. He was told he was a six-minute player and the kid played 45 minutes on Sunday," Kemp said. "I've said to him there is three weeks until an Anzac test and if he plays like that he shouldn't be left out."

The loss of Ruben Wiki, who led the hit-up, tackle and offload count for the Warriors, was expected to be a huge blow but Paleaaesina's performance lessened the impact.

He will have to do a lot, though, to hang on to the No 8 jersey when the Kiwis skipper returns from suspension after the Anzac test. "We miss Ruben, don't worry about that. He has been our stand-out player so far," Kemp said, referring to Wiki's leadership and experience.

For the time being, Paleaaesina is intent on making the most of his chance in the starting line-up.

"I'm looking forward to Ruben returning but at the same time I'm making the most of my opportunity," he explains. "Nobody's spot is cemented and I want to repay the faith the coaches have put in me."

Paleaaesina also wants to repay the fans, who have had to endure five losses at home on the bounce stretching back to July last year.

"Our home crowd makes it easier. They pump you up so much you just want to get through to the other side. Sometimes I get through, other times I'm lying on my back looking at the sky," he laughs.

The Penrose High School old boy says there's no worse feeling than letting down the home fans and the side is determined to right the results from the past few rounds.

So if the Warriors win today, will Paleaaesina be celebrating with fried chicken? "I love KFC but career comes first - KFC can come later."