I see players and coaches (Tony Smith being one of them) are now coming out and being critical. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 647305.stm The idea has always been to take rugby league to places/people that wouldn't normally get to see it. But is it working? Tickets sales are the lowest this year since the concept began... hardly suprising when you consider the distance Edinburgh is from the rugby league heartland, along with how poor it was last year compared to millenium magic. Smith has suggested keeping the weekend in the RL heartland.. each SL club taking turns to host it each year.. I think that would be a much better idea. As well as keeping the income in the game it would give a much needed financial boost to local areas.

I see players and coaches (Tony Smith being one of them) are now coming out and being critical. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 647305.stm The idea has always been to take rugby league to places/people that wouldn't normally get to see it. But is it working? Tickets sales are the lowest this year since the concept began... hardly suprising when you consider the distance Edinburgh is from the rugby league heartland, along with how poor it was last year compared to millenium magic. Smith has suggested keeping the weekend in the RL heartland.. each SL club taking turns to host it each year.. I think that would be a much better idea. As well as keeping the income in the game it would give a much needed financial boost to local areas.

Personally I like the Magic Weekend, but I think that until the games are of a better quality that the concept isn't going to attract many people.

I guess that the Murrayfield deal runs out this year, so where is it going to be taken to next? If it's somewhere closer then I can see many more people attending.

Typical RFL. Why did they scrap the "Magic derbies".

St James Park or Croke Park next year. Ta.

Smith said exactly this the other week at woodys forum, and the players who were there totally agreed with him, Paul wellens even said why take our game to a city which more or less has no interest in it and boost there tourism and pub takings for the weekend .. All of them suggested the city of manchester stadium as an ideal location or even anfield , saying both venues would sell out easily due to the fact that its far easier for the true fans of the game to get to distance wise and cost wise..

It certainly worked in South Wales didn't it? Spreading the game to the South Wales valleys to create demand for a pro RL team.



Murrayfield will not be as well attended this year. I predict something between 20-25k maximum despite giving out free tickets (as I received last year). Well below the aggregate for the round.

The rumors were for Dublin 2011.. if they did that they would really alienate a lot of supporters... you need to re-mortgage your house for a weekend in Dublin.

I loved the millenium magic weekends... wasn't to fussed on the Edinburgh experience last year though and wont be going back this year.

Good idea. Or Elland Road, you would really get a huge crowd for any of them three IMO.

8-9 Euros a pint. But a great city, if you are OK with the Taigs and open IRA supporters. .

I've been to every one apart from this year. Edinburgh isn't a bloody patch on Cardiff. Bet I'm not the only one (although still thinking I might just nip up for Saturday lol).

"South Wales" in itself didnt work. The weekend was a success for two reasons that Murrayfiled doesnt have..... 1. Albeit the wrong code, there is a rugby base in the valleys....2. To all intense and purposes the games were being played at what was effectivly the national stadium (home of the FA cup).

For the events to be a REAL success it needs to stay easily accessable to the heartland of the supporters.

Ahh, miserable gits time already is it. Cool.

Be back in a couple of weeks, off to Edinburgh for a up and a top weekend.

Ta-ra.

Yeah i agree , but i just wonder what the fans reaction would be if as a one off next year they put it at Wembley then brought it to say liverpool ,leeds or manchester after that .. I would certainly go.. and i'm sure you would get a good turnout from fans that are unlikely to get there with there team for the challenge cup final .

well id heard it could be ireland nxt,but tbh is it not just an excuse for a glorified up,well i for 1 dont need an excuse for that

roflmao,well anyways the RFL seriously need to look at it.

Quote ="morleys_deckchair"I see players and coaches (Tony Smith being one of them) are now coming out and being critical. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 647305.stm The idea has always been to take rugby league to places/people that wouldn't normally get to see it. But is it working? Tickets sales are the lowest this year since the concept began... hardly suprising when you consider the distance Edinburgh is from the rugby league heartland, along with how poor it was last year compared to millenium magic. Smith has suggested keeping the weekend in the RL heartland.. each SL club taking turns to host it each year.. I think that would be a much better idea. As well as keeping the income in the game it would give a much needed financial boost to local areas.'" yeah cos were gonna get 8 sets in of fans into the willows arent we thats a stupid thing to say they need it at a big stadium.

Quote ="morleys_deckchair"I see players and coaches (Tony Smith being one of them) are now coming out and being critical. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 647305.stm The idea has always been to take rugby league to places/people that wouldn't normally get to see it. But is it working? Tickets sales are the lowest this year since the concept began... hardly suprising when you consider the distance Edinburgh is from the rugby league heartland, along with how poor it was last year compared to millenium magic. Smith has suggested keeping the weekend in the RL heartland.. each SL club taking turns to host it each year.. I think that would be a much better idea. As well as keeping the income in the game it would give a much needed financial boost to local areas.'" yeah cos were gonna get 8 sets in of fans into the willows arent we thats a stupid thing to say they need it at a big stadium.

I'd definatley go and it would without a doubt rise the attendances up.

Rugby League fans in a "I'm not travelling outside of Lancashire/Yorkshire shocker!"

Instead off moving from A to B all the time why not just come up with a different concept. Just for one weekend say if you score over 40 points you get a extra point,so if you win and score over 40 you get 3 points instead off two.Even if lose but still score 40 you get a point.If the Rfl are adamant in moving around the British Isle then and Football grounds would need to be used when the football season has finished.You see manure letting a rugby league team use they pitch then the week later they have a title decided,which if they lose we all know who Fergie would blame it on.

Moving from Cardiff to Edinburgh.. Error
Stopping the derbies... Error

Edinburgh is a trek and not that great a city IMO. Like many people though, I've been saying I'm not going for the last 12 months, but I know come Friday, plans will be in place to go one way or another.

When they said the weekend was being played in Scotland, I was hoping it might have been Glasgow. Prefer it there than in Edinburgh and Hampden is a tremendous stadium.

Never been to Glasgow, but it's still a trek either way. I really like the concept too.. really like it. The single biggest mistake though was the fixture changes. Granted Wire v Salford still exists but the juicy games like Wigan-Saints, Leeds-Bulls, Hull-KR were worth making an effort for.

Now..
Wakefield v Saints
Hull v Quins
Castleford v Catalans Dragons

Damp squid. Wet fart, call it what you will. It's hardly "must see".

Me and a mate are making a day of it

1230 - put some bets on
1-5 - insignificant other teams' games/Playstation
5-7 - Warrington 24 - Salford 37
7 - 2am - Manchester night out

I love these weekends.

Much easier to get to from this side of the pennines though!

Money money moneeeey

You are spot on!

Should have been kept in south wales where it was doing really well. Cardiff is the perfect city for this and also has the perfect stadium. Not to mention they moved it the very same year we got a team from wouth wales in super league! Idiots!

The derbies should have been kept. I was pretty excited about watching Hull v KR 2 years ago but last year, Bradford and Wakey, Quins v Salford.... I didn't really care. We are pretty lucky this year, it is still a massive game for us, but for some fans I don't think they are getting a top game.

The derbies attracts more fans, and will also keep more people in the stadium for longer. It makes a much better atmopshere as well.

I like the idea of having it at Eastlands but I think that would be better for a challenge cup semi-final double header, so I would move it back to south wales and bring back derbies!

The event last year was embarrasing for our sport, this year it will be even worse. The RFL don't have a clue. Even the wire fans can see it