Weyman lashes out as Titans belt Raiders - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Weyman lashes out as Titans belt Raiders

By Jim Morton 06/04/2008 12:06:43 AM Comments (0)

Bloodied Titans forward Daniel Conn accused rival Michael Weyman of an unprovoked king hit that resulted in the Raiders big man being sent off in their NRL match at Skilled Park.

Weyman outraged the Gold Coast players, coaches and fans with a right hook that hit the unsuspecting Conn flush on the cheekbone after the Canberra bench player played the ball.

Conn described the ugly 67th-minute punch, that sparked an all-in melee, as a "low act" after the Gold Coast ended Canberra's forgettable week with a 32-12 thumping.

The young replacement forward threw punches back at Weyman in the ensuing brawl before being restrained by team-mates but continued swinging after the game.

"I don't know what happened, I was in a tackle and just looked up and I thought he was just going to push me but he seemed to have a bit of a brain snap," Conn said.

"I looked away and closed my eyes... I thought he was going to push me but he king hit me.

"He'll do his time for it.

"It was a bit of a low act but I'll leave it to the judiciary."

Canberra's woes from Neil Henry's controversial early release week worsened with the six-tries-to-two loss and Weyman's ill-disciplined act that is expected to result in a hefty suspension.

It left the outclassed Raiders with 12 men for the last 13 minutes, allowing Gold Coast to score two more tries.

Referee Ben Cummins took little time to give Weyman his marching orders after he and fellow match officials eventually separated all 26 players.

"You've king hit the bloke - go," Cummins said.

Conn, who had just scored his first try for the Coast under the posts to seal the game at 20-6, was forced off the field with a nasty gash under his bulging right eye and a cut on his nose.

The former Bulldog, 22, was astounded to be on the receiving end of the right-hander after tackling Weyman, who refused to speak to the media after the match.

"I'm not too sure (why Weyman reacted)," Conn said. "I put on a second tackle and sort of went for the ball and he didn't like something, I don't know if it was the other person in the tackle or a brain snap on his behalf.

"I had a few words as he walked off, I told him what he was."

Henry and Raiders skipper Alan Tongue both condemned their 23-year-old interchange forward for his ill-discipline but suspected he was retaliating to something illegal in the tackle.

"It was a vigorous tackle but when you're in possession of the ball you don't throw a punch," said Henry, who praised the effort of his side after a disruptive week when he announced he would link with North Queensland next season.

Henry lamented a line-ball video referee's call that denied Colin Best his second try just before half-time when the Raiders were trailing 10-6.

Best's left boot appeared to shade the indistinctly-marked touchline.

"If we could have got over the line there we could have had the momentum (in the second half)," Henry said.

Hard-working back-rowers Anthony Laffranchi and Mark Minichiello were both superb for the Titans, each scoring a try, while Scott Prince earned a clear points decision over rival halfback Todd Carney

The Titans grabbed a share of the competition lead with a third win at their new plush home, which is quickly turning into a fortress, from as many starts.

Gold Coast dominated play for most of the encounter but were unable to break free from the Raiders until Conn's try, the fourth of six, set up by Mat Rogers.

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