A low turnout this weekend could see the end of the Magic Weekend. I don't think there is a deal for it to be played next season.

Would people be sad to see it go?

Getting rid would leave an extra weekend free for the players that think there is a 'fixture overload' but thats another argument.

It would be sad to see it go but if the support isnt there, especially from the locals, maybe it would be the correct decision.

Would a lower crowd from last years be considered a failure?

it needs to go back to Cardiff and possibly revert to the derby format.

Murrayfield is a really poor venue and the main reason i am staying away this year.

it looks to be dying a death realy . Think this might be the last one

It would depend on how you view its purpose really?
If you see it as a weekend for all RL Fans to get together - Then it should be kept within the heartlands of the sport.
If its meant as a development marketing tool in non-RL areas - Keeping the 'derby' concept was the ONLY way to draw any interest at all.
Looking at this years schedule? Not one single game that makes you think 'yep, gotta travel all the way to Edinburgh to see that one!'.
The locals wont be interested either, so i can only see it being a complete shambles attendance wise.

Good idea - poorly executed - p*ss poorly marketed - with no direction or meaning to it - Time to get rid.

some people will even try blaming the rfl if the weather is bad over the weekend

it needs to be played at somewhere like man city or liverpool

The concept is flawed for a number of reasons. It should be dropped but I am not averse to the idea of starting the season with a similar format at a large north west stadium.

It will be back in 2011. It's in the TV contract that currently runs till the end of next season.

I really don't see the point of it. The aggregate attendance over the two days will be much lower than a regular round of Super League games.

For me there are other things which need looking at such as having all games in the opening round played over the same weekend. The staggered start to the season we have doesn't do anybody any favours.
I'd also like to see the Challenge Cup final in late May, possibly early June. I'd make sure that there weren't any long gaps between rounds either.

Get rid.

Our rivals Warrington have had 3 easy rides already with easy opposition (Salford) for each previous Weekend. Then they randomly pull them out again.

Meanwhile Wigan had Stains three times now have a difficult game against Huddersfield.

How is that fair? Scandalous!!

What would be better would be if both Challenge Cup semis were played one after the other at the same venue or the Play Off semis played one after the other at a big north west stadium e.g City Of Manchester Stadium.

Your getting high intensity games one after the other, if you market it well and get some fresh fans just to see what all the fuss is about the would be hooked because there is no better game to watch than knock out rugby.

I would prefer both CC semis played together as the weather would be good also it would be on the BBC for the whole country to see free to air.

Judging from last year it would have been Wigan v Warrington and Saints v Huddersfield one after the other.

Easy get 35,000 no probs. Geez eh? I really should be snapped up by the RFL, just pm me big Nige



You heard it here first

Quality 10,000th post.

Likewise, don't like missing a game but went last year we had 3 nights in good hotel did all the tourist bits,wasn't cheap, enjoyed the win, but Murrayfield has no atmosphere, is in the middle of nowhere, so no thanks we will put the money saved towards our w/end in Spain/Perpignan.
Cardiff is a much better venue.

Wow....hadn't noticed.!



Do I get a pressie?

Here.. I couldn't be bothered wrapping it up.

Exactly.

Thinking about it, it wasn't exactly random them pulling Salford out of the bag (They were given opposition from the lower half of the table). Wigan were picked a team out of the top half.

At the end of the season, top spot could come down to a couple of points - maybe even points difference, this could be that difference....an added on match with no significance other than two competition points.
The game stinks!

Why can't the Magic Weekend be played at Wembley, or the Emirates Stadium?

Ok the problem with Wembley is it may take away the novelty of the Challenge Cup, however for the lesser teams (like Cas) it gives their fans a day out to experience Wembley and see their team play, as they would probably not get there for the final. I think we should at least give it a go in London as we are really stuggling to get a foothold on the game in London, as shown with the support Quins get after all their years in SL.

We could try the Emirates stadium as it would be held towards the end of the football season, and it could easily be arranged by Arsenal playing their last game of the season away from home. Both these grounds are open to hosting other events, as Emirates has hosted a few international friendlies over the years.

I'd prefer to drop it altogether, and use the free weekend for a competitive England game, perhaps against SL "foreigners".

I think it's a stroke of genius that is just marketed poorly. Why tell us about it? We're rugby fans we already know about it. Tell the local people who might be interested but have no idea about it. Get into schools and hand out tickets. 20k, 30k who cares? Get the locals into it. Send some coaches into a school get the kids interested and they'll pester Mummy and Daddy to take them. Bingo.

Don't think it would have the same affect in the heartlands as it's a weekend event and not just a one day thing. Needs to be somewhere that you would travel too for the weekend.

Are you sure you and me arent related ?



I been saying this since the ill conceived concept was born.

I don't think the RFL should ever give away 20,000 or 30,000 free tickets. Devalues the event and the sport.
A better idea would be to hold some kind of rugby league related competition in the local schools and have a few hundred tickets as the main prize.

I think its a great idea but it needs fine tuning to get the best out of it. Location is everything and although Edinburgh is a great place Murrayfield isnt the best. St james park, Millenium stadium, Old trafford, Elland road, City of Manchester, Anfield, Wembley, Emirates would all get better turnouts imo and theres probably quite a few more venues that would too. The games need to be competitve to make it work as well i feel. Bilko's idea of league placings determining who plays who is the best ive heard so far.

If it the games were going to be fro a "draw" than it should not have been top 8 and bottom 6. It should be open. Bradford and Warrington have benefited from finishing outside the top 8 last season.