Super League Top 10 - Magic Weekend Moments

This weekend would have been the Magic Weekend in Newcastle. Tickets and hotels were booked and cancelled, and sadly we remain indoors! What we do have is 12 years of Magic memories.

10. Hull FC 22-16 Hull KR – 2013

That was my face when the match winning try was awarded! The game looked to be heading for a draw. That was until Chris Green crashed over from a Holdsworth bomb.

The decision was handed up to the video referee, and replays cleared showed Green was several yards offside. Incredibly, Steve Ganson awarded the match-winner.

The RFL released an apologetic statement three hours after kick off, but that would have offered little consolation to the Rovers.

9. Wigan 18-14 Leeds – 2014

These two sides had shared all the last seven Super League titles going into this match, so a battle royal was expected. A ferocious game did ensue, and the action did spill over at times with Ben Thaler showing three yellow cards.

The sides shared three tries each, with an unusual off day from Kevin Sinfield leaving Wigan four points ahead. Joel Moon looked to have won it late on, but a knock on was spotted by the video referee and Wigan held on.

8. Huddersfield 34-36 Warrington - 2008

This was a brilliant way to open the 2008 Magic Weekend. At half-time, Huddersfield held a 22-6 lead and the game looked to be over.

Five consecutive second half tries saw Warrington take a surprise 30-22 lead. There was time for more drama, as Huddersfield narrowed the gap, but a late Lee Briers try proved decisive.

7. Bradford 22-37 Leeds - 2012

This game was probably not the most memorable on this list but makes it because a special individual achievement. Curiously, despite scoring six tries, Leeds only had two tryscorers! Five of those six tries were scored by Danny McGuire.

A first half hat-trick followed up by two more second half tries completed a stunning individual performance in the Manchester sunshine.

6. Bradford 0-19 Crusaders - 2010

Bradford have played in eight Magic Weekend’s, yet have only won one, a forgettable 2009 win over Wakefield. Sadly for them, it means that their losses are more likely to feature in this list.

Crusaders new signing Jarrod Sammut had only landed in the country 24 hours earlier and commanded a bench spot. With his first touch, he scored a memorable try involving a chip and chase and a near knock on. Topped off with kissing the badge on his first appearance. Now that’s magic!

5. St Helens 16-16 Wigan -2011

The 2011 Magic Weekend was the season opener. Because who doesn’t want to watch six hours plus of action in freezing temperatures?! In a surprise to no-one, a February Magic Weekend only lasted for one year.

The repeat of the 2010 Grand Final warmed things up nicely though! Wigan seemed to be heading for a comfortable victory, but St Helens fought back from 16 points down in the last 15 minutes to secure an unlikely draw. Both sides failed with late drop goal efforts and the spoils were shared.

4. Catalans 22-22 Huddersfield - 2015

With Huddersfield taking a 16-0 lead, there appeared little prospect of what was to follow. A surging Catalans fightback took them into a 22-16 lead. However, with the final play, Jermaine McGillvary brought Huddersfield to within two points. Danny Brough was ice-cool from the sideline to secure a draw.

The point was little consolation to a furious Paul Anderson though, who described Huddersfield’s second half performance as ‘pathetic’.

3. Wakefield 25-24 Catalans - 2016

For the second year running, Catalans were the victims of last-minute Magic Weekend heartbreak. The game followed a similar pattern to their 2015 match, expect this time, it was Catalans who took a three-score lead, with Wakefield fighting back to lead.

Mikael Simon looked to have secured a point before Jacob Miller kicked a stunning 50 metre drop goal to settle it.

2. Hull FC 30-32 Hull KR - 2012

Another Magic Weekend, another fantastic fightback. It seemed as though two Hull KR tries, one from a suspicious looking forward pass, would be in vein. That was until David Hodgson’s run weaving run from his own half. He evaded several Hull FC defenders, crossing in the corner right in front of the jubilant Hull KR fans.

1. Bradford 38-42 Leeds - 2007

Even before the events of the final three minutes of this game, it would have been a classic. A back and forth 12 try encounter with Bradford leading by two.

Then, Leeds were awarded a penalty for offside, incorrectly. Kevin Sinfield pointed to the sticks from 45 metres, not too far from the sideline. Incredibly, Sinfield struck the crossbar and the chasing Jordan Tansey was the first to react to score.

Bradford felt cheated. But that sense of injustice grew further when replays showed Tansey was several yards offside. Steve Ganson, despite several video referee referrals during the match, decided not to check again this time, much to Bradford’s fury.