It was Hull v Cas I think in 2010. It was the second of the four games if I recall right. The Red Button option is on Cable though now I think so its not that big a deal compared to then - aside from the lack of red button in HD.

Why oh why do we have to play Wigan again? Six times in one season has put me right off playing them any more than twice in a season for about ten years.

No but it was in 2010.

I agree. You should be playing Warrington instead and us take on Widnes!



It does spoil it though being serious but might not be too bad this year with the two normal derbies being 5 months apart.

tickets prices below day tickets - reserved seating non-season passholders ( adults £45.00 con £22.50) season passholders (adults £22.50, con £11.25) unreserved seating non-season passholders ( adults £30, con £15.00) season passholders (adults £15.00 con £7.50) weekend tickets - reserved seating season passholders (adults £30.00 con £15.00) non-season passholders ( adults £60.00 con £30.00) unreserved seating non-season passholders ( adults £45.00, con £22.50) season passholders (adults £22.50 con £11.25) https://www.eticketing.co.uk/rle/default.aspx

tickets prices below day tickets - reserved seating non-season passholders ( adults £45.00 con £22.50) season passholders (adults £22.50, con £11.25) unreserved seating non-season passholders ( adults £30, con £15.00) season passholders (adults £15.00 con £7.50) weekend tickets - reserved seating season passholders (adults £30.00 con £15.00) non-season passholders ( adults £60.00 con £30.00) unreserved seating non-season passholders ( adults £45.00, con £22.50) season passholders (adults £22.50 con £11.25) https://www.eticketing.co.uk/rle/default.aspx

That's a damn fine idea. Why don't you work for the RFL?


No doubt we will meet in the CC rounds or the play offs again though so it's going to be another 'oh look it's Wigan again!' season, I can just feel it in my bones.

One thing that annoys me is that whilst Warrington look certain to get 2 points, Wigan/Saints will face off in an even tougher game that could go either way.

Is it really fair? IMO, the Magic Weekend concept should be rethought with either games being decided by last years standings (1st v 2nd etc) or by a random draw. Or just scrapped altogether.

Great value again- Hopefully big crowds this year

It is a joke, those 2 points could be the difference between finishing in one position or another come the end of the season for both teams.

I'm a big fan of the derby matches, but not when it is at the cost of fairness and it's hardly going to look good on TV if Warrington crush them in one of the prime viewing slots. There is no enjoyment in watching a one sided game, and if it goes that way then there will be a lot of people changing the channel at home.

I feel a little harsh to suggest Widnes have no chance in this game, but the number of points Wire scored last year and the fact that Widnes are newly promoted suggests that this will be an embarassment.

Get this game on early on Sunday instead so nobody has to watch it on TV.

Thankfully, it won't be switched and I for one will look forward to seeing lots of passionate Widnes fans backing their team to pull off a shock. Much of the above was written about Rovers prior to MM #1 in 2007, as Hull were beaten Grand Finalists the year before. Cookie turns up in a red & white shirt and the rest is history.

Christ you're a ray of sunshine! Huddersfield are a good side and could beat Wire.

I hope that is the case, I just can't realistically see it and no doubt people writing off Widnes will give them even more of an incentive to do well.

However, if it does go as I think it will do then neutrals will leave the ground or change the channel. Not great for the sport.

Indeed. But certainly not at the Magic Weekend.

Whys that then?

Because Warrington play Widnes and Huddersfield play Salford probably.

They tried the draw/league positions thing in 09 and 2010, and it was pretty dull. I'd rather travel and pay for a hotel to watch Leeds v Bradford and Hull v Rovers rather than Leeds v Wakey and Bradford v Crusaders like in Edinburgh.

Oops my bad!



Fair point then, advantage Warrington

Maybe so but the Leeds v Wakefield match was by far the best match of that weekend. You'll find the vast majority of neutrals agree with that view and the outcome of the match wasn't certain right until the end.

A random draw has been tried and doesn't work as it could throw some potentially dire games. If the top 4/5 avoided each other then it'd be likely it would be 2 days of one-sided games. I think it has to go down the route of being based on last season's league table, if the RFL insist on having it every year then that is the fairest way to do it. If this year isn't seen as a success though then scrapping it has to be given some serious consideration.

Unreserved seating throughout would be better, but I will no doubt be going for the Sunday at least

The whole lower tier is unreserved seating so presumably access right the way around the 'bowl'.

I agree, really enjoyed the game.

Was probably a bit unfair to use it as an example, but before the game given the choice between Leeds v Wakey and Leeds v Bradford there's no doubt I'd have picked Leeds v Bradford, just as I would Wakey v Cas rather than Wakey v Bradford as 2009.

Saturday May 26
1.00pm - Castleford Tigers v Wakefield Wildcats
4.00pm - Warrington Wolves v Widnes Vikings
7.00pm - Hull FC v Hull KR

Sunday May 27
12.00pm - Catalan Dragons v London Broncos
2.00pm - Huddersfield Giants v Salford City Reds
4.00pm - Bradford Bulls v Leeds Rhinos
6.00pm - St Helens v Wigan Warriors

Why is there 3 hours between games on the saturday, but only 2 hours on the sunday? On the saturday thats going to leave a gap of about 1 hour 20 minutes between games? Seems a bit of a long wait

Derby games are right. Sure, they could lead to blow-out scores but so did 'seeded' games. And if RL still thinks its grounded in its communities, then its the right message. Yes, two points could decide who wins the hub cap but the play off structure means the final league placings is only one factor in who ultimately wins the SL trophy; ask any Saints fan.

less games, but want more fans to spend more money. the longer they're in there / gaps between games, the more likely ale, grub, merch will be bought. The class thing about cardiff was that u could literally hop out of the ground to the pubs outside. is there any pubs near the ethiad?

How about a completely random draw.

The bottom 8 play on the Saturday.
Top 6 play on Sunday.

Saturday KO times are 12.30, 3, 5.30 and 8
Sunday KO times are 2, 4.30 and 7

The exact fixtures are not drawn out until 1hr before each KO just to add an element of surprise. It might be quite weird for a team to prepare for a game at 11.30 but not play till 8. It might be worth doing it for 1 year. Alternatively you could name the fixtures and dates well in advance but not the time of the KO until an hour before. Everybody would have to turn up for the first game and then once your there you might as well stay for the remaining games that day.

Just a thought!