WHEN a club legend returns to his old stomping ground in another team’s colours, emotions are going to run high and feelings are going to be hurt.

Thousands of words have been written about Robbie Farah’s exodus from the Tigers and subsequent move to the Rabbitohs and come Friday night all that pent up tension from both player and club will finally come to ahead and, for a while at least, either Farah or Taylor will be vindicated.

With one of the seasons most intense grudge matches coming just one day in, we’ve taken a look at some of the returns of the past when former players left their long-time homes for a new club.

ROUND ONE: Latest team news here

Round 19

FEUD FINALE: Taylor v Farah reaches climax

NRL LATE MAIL: Hayne cleared, Ponga out

Willie Mason, Roosters vs. Bulldogs, 2008

Nothing about Willie Mason was quiet. The larger than life forward left the Bulldogs at the end of 2007 for the archrival Roosters, who also boasted former Dogs Braith Anasta, Nate Myles and Mark O’Meley. Tensions hit fever pitch when Sonny Bill Williams said in the lead up to the match he’d lost respect for Mason. A crowd of over 36,000 came to watch Mason take on his former club for the first time and the result was a demolition — Mason scored two tries in a 40-12 drubbing.

Sonny Bill Williams, Roosters vs. Bulldogs, 2013

Remember how Williams said he lost respect for Mason because he left? Only a few months later the Kiwi international jetted off for Toulon, walking out on the Bulldogs and rugby league. He returned in 2013, coincidentally with the Roosters and in one of those twists that only sport can provide he also scored two tries in his first match against the Bulldogs, a 38-0 drubbing at Allianz Stadium.

Security watch the crowd as Willie Mason sits on the bench on his return to ANZ Stadium as a Rooster. Source: News Limited

Todd Carney (2010), Blake Ferguson (2015), Josh Dugan (2013), Anthony Milford (2015)

Canberra didn’t have much luck against their prodigal quartet. Carney scored two tries and kicked four goals in a 36-6 win in early 2010, Ferguson also dotted down in a 34-6 smashing in 2015 and Milford starred in his return to Canberra, a 24-12 victory later that season. Only Dugan tasted defeat — his Dragons lost 22-18 in 2013 but he hasn’t tasted defeat against his former club since.

Johnathan Thurston, Cowboys vs. Bulldogs, 2005

Thurston’s time at the Bulldogs is an oft-overlooked footnote of his career but he made it clear from the get-go that perhaps Canterbury had made a mistake in letting him go. In just his second match for his new club Thurston led the way in a 24-12 upset in front of a huge crowd at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

Video still of Todd Carney kicking for goal during the Sydney Roosters v Canberra Raiders NRL game at the SFS in Sydney. Pic Fox Sports. Source: Supplied

Brad Fittler, Roosters vs. Panthers, 1996

Super League ripped Fittler away from Penrith and he joined the ARL-aligned Roosters, who were coached by former Panthers boss Phil Gould. His first match against his former club was a spiteful 30-14 win at the Sydney Football Stadium, which saw Panthers backrower Matt Adamson both sin-binned and sent off.

Craig Wing, Rabbitohs vs. Roosters, 2008

In the late 1990s Wing was the Rabbitohs favourite son and one of the few bright spots in a tough era for the foundation club. When they were kicked out of the competition, Wing headed to the Roosters and blossomed into the best utility player in the game who could make an impact from anywhere on the field. He returned to Redfern for 2008 and his first match was against the Roosters but it was cut short when Riley Brown hit him with a viscous “prowler” tackle that put Wing on the sidelines for 15 weeks. Souths lost 34-20.

Jamie Lyon, Manly vs. Parramatta, 2007

When Lyon decided he’d had enough of the big smoke in 2004 and quit the Eels for St Helens via Wee Waa, Parramatta fans were livid. Even Peter Sterling fired up, claiming Lyon had “duded Parramatta like you wouldn’t believe”. Lyon’s return to Parramatta Stadium with Manly three years later proved that time does not heal all wounds — he had coins thrown at him during the match but had the last laugh, scoring a try and kicking three goals in the 22-12 victory.

Matthew Johns, Cronulla vs. Newcastle, 2002

Fan favourite Matty Johns was run out of Newcastle in 2000 by Warren Ryan as a result of salary cap pressures and joined Wigan, putting together a stellar season before returning to the NRL with the Sharks in 2002. Cronulla travelled to the Hunter in Round 6 and over 26,000 people packed into Marathon Stadium to welcome Johns home. It was the only time Johns would play against his brother and Andrew took eternal bragging rights as the Knights cruised to a 52-8 victory