Michael Weyman and the Roosters' Daniel Conn will reignite one of rugby league's ugliest feuds when the pair lock horns in a fiery battle on Anzac Day.Round three of the Weyman-Conn saga is set to erupt at the SFS in the grand final replay on Monday.After two bruising encounters in 2008 and 2010, the scores are level at one apiece ahead of what is forming as the modern-day version of the Paul Harragon-Mark Carroll rivalry.Harragon and Carroll went blow for blow in a decade-long confrontation which attracted many fans through the gates, a spectacle Weyman and Conn have begun to recreate.
Full coverage of the DragonsThe bitter feud between the ute-driving country boy and the male model from Bondi began three years ago when Weyman rearranged Conn's face in a brutal fracas on the Gold Coast.Weyman, playing for the Raiders at the time, took exception to a Conn tackle and let his feelings be known by firing a barrage of upper-cuts and hooks into Conn's head, resulting in his sending off.Conn, who joined the Roosters in 2010, squared the ledger and got his revenge in last year's premiership decider when his conspicuous swinging arm left Weyman dazed and rattled.Suffering from a bout of concussion, Weyman's grand final dreams were brought to a premature end.The 26-year-old was forced to sit out the remaining 59 minutes on the bench as his team-mates stormed home to win the joint venture's first title.There were no post-game apologies, no handshakes and definitely no indication the pair had kissed and made up.When Conn spoke to the Mercury yesterday, the 25-year-old said his relationship with his nemesis was unlikely to change any time soon."Put it this way, I won't be sending him a Christmas card," Conn said.Asked whether he had a score to settle on Monday afternoon, Conn said: "He's got a grand final ring ... I don't."There is no doubting the fierce rivalry between the two on the field.But while Conn has plenty of reasons to hold a grudge, his opinion of Weyman the person hasn't diluted his respect for Weyman the NSW and Australian prop."Horse came back from injury last week and he played pretty well," Conn said."He's a good player. The Dragons have got an unreal forward pack."The Mercury contacted Weyman to weigh in on the highly anticipated confrontation. But the Dragons hardman, who returned from a groin injury in last week’s win against South Sydney, was reluctant to light the fuse for an explosive third-round altercation.‘‘No comment,’’ Weyman said.‘‘I’ve got nothing.’’The pain of last year’s grand final loss still haunts Conn.He refuses to relive the memories and hasn’t watched the replay of that fateful day on October 3.But the pain of the premiership defeat will serve as motivation on Monday in the first encounter against the Dragons since last year’s heartbreaking loss at ANZ Stadium.‘‘We do have a lot to prove, not just because it’s the Dragons, but the way our season is going at the moment,’’ Conn said.‘‘I’ve never watched [the grand final] to be honest.‘‘I remember that we were good in the first half but nothing went our way. The rest is history.’’Weyman is raring to rip in on Monday.He said the traditional Anzac Day clash was one of the highlights of the year, but this year’s duel would take on greater significance considering the match-up against their grand final rivals from last year.‘‘It does make it more special,’’ Weyman said.‘‘It’s always a tough game and it means a lot to everyone.‘‘For me personally, it means a lot because of the Anzac Day spirit.‘‘There’s also that rivalry with us and the Roosters. I know it’s a game everyone looks forward to.’’
