Having got back today after spending the weekend there, wondered what people thought about the venue, should the RFL try it again, some went for the day some for the weekend, we found it ok, lots to see and the people very friendly, any thoughts

Thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, for me its perfect for rugby league and can only get better. Loads of hotels and bars, the people are really friendly and the stadium is fantastic. If it were to be at newcastle again (and i hope it will) then i would definitely go again.

Personally, I still prefer Etihad (Manchester), as it is more central for most of the teams (within 40 miles or so of everywhere apart from Hull and Catalans).

Plus the fact that Etihad has a massive area around the ground for the whole roadshow to be set up, rather than dotting it about on the surrounding streets.

Best one yet for me. The city is a fabulous place and we had a great time wondering down the Tyne having a few pints. We stayed on a caravan site at Whitley Bay and the place was rammed full of fans of all clubs. We didn't see any trouble, just people having a chat and a laugh about the game.

I'll be miffed if we don't get the chance to do it all again next year and it ends up back on the doorstep. It needs to be an event and feel like one rather then it feeling like a trip to Salford or Widnes (in distance terms).

Massive thumbs up from me.

We went up on Friday, staying two nights in a great little guest house in Whitley Bay. A nice Italian in Tynemouth that night, a few pints in the Toon before the game on Saturday, walks along the beach and up the coast etc on the Sunday. Loads to do in and around Newcastle, great venue and I'll definitely be back if it's happening there next season.

Great weekend and would do it again.

Only two slight problems imo, the band or big screen need to be moved and the pa system was very poor.

The bands equipment blocking the screen was weird! Who didn't think of that being an issue?!

My only downside was after a double beef burger with bacon, cheese and onions in a cracking real ale pub on the way up washed down with a few of their finest the walk was a bit too uphill!!

If you're all that enthusiastic, I can see I'll have to steel myself for a trip to the Arctic Circle next year!

Should do Anfield or Goodison Park next season, do a different city each year if possible

I think we should have a crack at Barcelona one year! There would be thousands of Catalan fans there I reckon and you'd get a really good travelling support. There's loads of towns to stay at on the coast as well so people could make a holiday/long weekend of it.

I do just fancy another excuse to get away for the weekend but I think it'd be class over there.

I think the Etihad is still the "home" of MW; but I'd look at doing 2 years there then the 3rd year "on the road". Barcelona's a great shout, Dublin would be good as well.

It's difficult for the RFL because I really think the format of it needs to change but it's a massive risk to change it when the current one is successful, even if it does lead to a mist-matched fixture list. I'm a big fan of the 9's idea, providing it was properly backed with sponsorship and prize money, as I think that's the only way you would get more people to stay both days, and you could get more teams involved.

Each to their own but for me I just can't get my head round anyone wanting us to move to a nines competition. That type of tournament is nothing more then a gimmick and I think we'd see teams sending weakened sides chocked full of juniors over time.

The set up currently could be tweaked here and there but the general concept is correct and it's growing which is all you can ask for. I like the idea of a three year rotation and would look to get Newcastle and Cardiff penned in for two of those three years on each cycle and then in that third year each time take it to Barcelona, Dublin or similar.

It must be as a 17 a side game though or it'll die within 3 seasons IMO.

A rotation of Cardiff, Newcastle then Barcelona/Dublin?

I guess I've been to my last Magic Weekend then!

Or the people you meet " on the Newcastle Beach " on a Saturday morning

The week after Catalan away again, that would be a long week in Spain !

I really enjoyed the event in Manchester but I think the weekend hit home that to me the event is all about spreading the game to different audiences whilst giving the usual fans the opportunity to head to new places and mingle together. I've been to the lot and whilst Edinburgh was really poor due to the stadium location I think Cardiff and especially Newcastle far outstrip staging the event in Manchester.

I'm all for games being easy accessible but if people want to stay local for games there's 13 or 14 home games plus Wire, Saints, Salford and Widnes to go at each year. I just don't see what 'extra' benefits we get out of staging the event in Manchester.

I think 9's gives us the opportunity to showcase the most skilful aspects of the sport to people who don't understand the technicalities of it, whilst also not comprising the integrity of the league table. Using the Aukland tournament as a blueprint, you have 16 teams playing over two days with every team guaranteed to play at least once on both days. It would need to be heavily backed to ensure that it was worthwhile winning so that teams played their "stars".

Another idea is to integrate it into the league format better, which would probably mean moving it to the Super 8's stage so that it serves as the 7th fixture, with everyone playing 3 home, 3 away and one neutral. This would work better if the CC final is moved from August back to May to spread the big events out better over the season.

I love the MW as a concept but my main bugbears with it in its current format are the additional game added to the league, which isn't fair when relegation is at stake, plus the fact that there's a lack of transparency with how the fixtures are selected.

Can't argue with much of that. We certainly don't need any additional fixtures so to cut it back by one would be a shout.

The only thing I can't go for is a nine comp. I think it works in the NRL because it already has a decent profile compared to over here. I don't think we'd get enough casual viewers to make it work and I think a lot of magic regulars may turn away from the event. I don't in all honesty think it would be for me but you never know. I'm a cricket fan as well and even with it's huge profile I've never been able to see T20 as more then a laugh and even the world cup feels like friendlies to me with Test matches being the 'main event'. I suppose what that does show though is these things can work because T20 is huge and appeals to the every day man in the street but again I'd g back to the fact the game has a big profile already from which to build when compared to league.

Here's the thing with Nines for me. I loved the first Auckland Nines. I thought it was great fun (and way more satisfactory than RU 7s). I watched every game. The second year I watched most of it. Still enjoyed it. Next year, I doubt I'll be too bothered. And I expect many fans (and sponsors?) may well feel the same. I might be very wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Auckland Nines didn't tail off and die after three or four years.

While i will be the first to admit that the Edinburgh Magic Weekends were probably the worst of the weekends so far (with the exception of Cardiff in February. Who ever thought of that one wants shooting) i cant understand the people who use the excuse that the stadium location as an excuse . Its as close to the city centre in Edinburgh as the Etihad is to Manchester .

AND its only 400.75 yards from my house







Regards , EW

Man up Moto748 . If you concider Newcastle as the Artic Circle i must live in and around the North Pole lol



Regards , EW

I think it is our duty to look upon these weekends as missionary work and need to use our time wisely to convert the uneducated to the powers of Rugby League . Spent all weekend trying to explain the finer points to Rugby Union fans . Newcastle and the stadium were great . I would move the fan zone to Northumberland Street and get the kids of the Saturday/Sunday shoppers involved in the fun and show the people of Newcastle what a fun time being a Rugby League fan really is .

Thought the stewarding inside the stadium was a bit over zealous at times (to start with) but once the stewards realised we were not football fans and there for a party they bought into it big time .

Regards , EW

But for Manchester the majority were there for the day I'd have thought and many will go straight to the stadium.

It wasn't a disaster but the feel just wasn't as good although I appreciate its a quick roll home for yourself

It's not called "The Baltic Mill " on the side of the Tyne for nothing !

I've journeyed in the frozen wastes, I'll have you know!

I well remember the time I rode home from Inverness to Wiltshire on my motorbike in a day. That's 600+ miles. Been up to Cape Wrath, too.