After six years playing for the Canberra Raiders the burly front-rower was sad he was leaving his mates behind.

But with persistent injuries and suspensions threatening to derail his NRL career at just 24, he also sensed he had to leave if he wanted to reach his true potential.

Fast forward nine months and Weyman has arrived back in Canberra albeit only briefly blissfully aware of how right he was to follow his intuition.

Weyman will play against the Raiders for the first time when he leads the ladder-topping St George-Illawarra pack into battle at Canberra Stadium tonight.

He will do so as a player nearing the peak of his powers.

One that has gone from an untapped talent who played just 39 of a possible 98 games during his final four seasons at the Raiders, to a NSW State of Origin representative.

It's been an amazing rise for Weyman and one he is at a loss to really explain.

''I guess it was just a change in environment,'' Weyman said.

''I loved being in Canberra, but I'd been at the Raiders for a long time.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times