We take a trip down Magic Weekend memory lane
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The Magic Weekend celebrates its 10th birthday this weekend, with another record-breaking crowd expected to descend upon Newcastle.
The event, which sees every Super League side play a fixture across two days, has been held at the Millennium Stadium, Murrayfield, the Etihad and most recently St James’ Park and is never short of drama.
Moments of skill, passion, aggression and the odd controversial decision have made the event one of the highlights of the rugby league calendar.
And with that in mind we’ve decided to re-live a few of the most ‘magic’ and dramatic moments from Magic Weekends gone by.
Controversial Tansey try seals Rhinos win, 2007
Perhaps the most famous moment of any Magic Weekend came in the very first event held in Cardiff back in 2007.
In a high-scoring Leeds-Bradford derby, the Rhinos trailed by two in the last minute of the game, but were contentiously awarded a penalty 40 metres out.
Sensibly, Kevin Sinfield opted to go for goal, but if Bradford thought they were hard done by in conceding the penalty in the first place, it was nothing on what was about to happen.
Sinfield’s penalty kick struck the crossbar and bounced down into the hands of an eagerly-chasing Jordan Tansey – so eager he was around five metres offside when the ball was kicked. Much to the Bradford players’ remonstrations, referee Steve Ganson awarded the try and Leeds stole the win.
Hodgson’s heroic Hull derby drama, 2012
Very few Hull derbies pass by without drama, and that is especially the case when the two fierce city rivals meet at the Magic Weekend.
In 2013, the luck was on Hull FC’s side as a controversial video referee decision allowed them to snatch the two points, but it was their meeting at the Etihad the year previous which showcased some real last-gasp solo magic.
Trailing 30-16 with less than 15 minutes to go, Hull KR rallied to bring themselves within two points of their rivals. Things looked lost, however, when they were in their own half with less than a minute left on the clock.
Step forward David Hodgson. The Rovers winger received the ball on his own 40-metre line, stepped past two Hull FC defenders and raced along the touchline to touch down with the last play of the game, setting off wild scenes in the KR end.
Flying McGillvary & calm Brough snatch draw, 2015
Our final Magic moment is the most recent entry, and it is Huddersfield Giants duo Jermaine McGillvary and Danny Brough who take the honours, after helping the Giants record a last-gasp draw against Catalans Dragons last year.
Trailing 22-16 in the final minute of the game, the Giants kept the ball alive through six pairs of hands before a cut-out ball to the wing gave McGillvary the opportunity to fly over for a stunning try in the corner.
The pressure was then all on Brough to land a touchline conversion after the full-time hooter to claim a point, and the former Man of Steel kept his cool amongst a chorus of boos to grab a draw for the Giants.
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