Warrington were stunned by Castleford’s comeback; Wakefield beat Catalans in a thriller; and fans were left to ponder where Magic Weekend will go next

Hull FC’s second-half performance in their derby win over Hull Kingston Rovers showed there really is one club who want to win Super League. First we saw leaders Warrington lose control in a stunning comeback by Castleford on Saturday afternoon, then second-placed Catalans managed to lose a cracker against Wakefield on Sunday lunchtime, making it a fine Magic Weekend for Wigan. Their romp against Leeds made it a four-way tie at the top, until Hull FC closed the tenth Magic weekend with an impressive 28-16 victory to go two points clear.

It would be extreme to say that this is now or never for Hull but the combination of a group of senior players reaching the last chapters of their careers – Pryce, Pritchard, Minichiello, Ellis are all into their 30s – and all but Wigan of the usual challengers having lacklustre (Saints) or shambolic (Leeds) seasons, means this is a golden opportunity for them, just as it is for Warrington and Catalans.

Hundreds of Hull FC fans were in town in the morning, the beer drinking starting while the clock still said 10 something. No wonder it was carnage by the time the derby kicked off. Despite its fun image, Magic is not a family event, with children noticeably absent compared to usual Super League games, as the drunkenness and foul chanting dominate behaviour later in the day. That did contribute to the astonishing roar from the huge Hull FC following on the Leazes End when Mahe Fonua leapt skyward to open the scoring for the Airlie Birds.

Magic Weekend roundup: Hull FC go clear at top with late derby fightback Read more

The excitement spilled over on 20 minutes with an all-in barney that looked pretty pathetic, resembling a 19th century ball game between rival villages as 26 men piled on top of each other. Shaun Lunt thought it should also involve driving an opponent into the ground like a spear. Referee Silverwood considered that foul play and asked him to sit out the next ten minutes. It was all tumultuous fun.

When Rovers drew level at 16-all, the Airlie Birds kept their nerve. Mark Minichiello confirmed victory with an extraordinary burst of pace for a 34-year-old forward, showing what modern strength and conditioning can do to extend an elite athlete’s career. New Italy coach Cameron Ciraldo will be hoping he can keep this going for another 18 months to take them through the World Cup before hanging up his white boots.

If this winning recipe of an ageing pack and sprightly backs continues to put in solid displays like this, Hull FC are guaranteed a top-four spot and no one will fancy going there, or to Perpignan, in the semi-finals.

Foreign quota

Strangest game of the weekend was surely Catalans conspiring to lose a thriller 25-24 to buoyant Wakefield. Catalans, sporting a beautiful all blood strip in the semi darkness of a Tyneside lunchtime (floodlights were required), blew the opportunity to go top, Pat Richards of all people missing three of his four goal kicks, including fatally driving a late penalty against the post.

Sam Tomkins inspires Wigan to handsome win over Leeds Read more

Trinity’s massed ranks sensed blood and nicked it with Jacob Miller’s fabulous drop goal after athletic French forward Mickael Simon plunged over late on. Pity Catalans sub Alrix da Costa, who was all set to come on for the last 10 minutes when Wakey levelled and spent the whole game watching on.

The 200 or so colourful Dragons fans had enjoyed the wonderful sunshine on the Quayside on Sunday morning – a veritable Tyneside Riviera – but went rather quiet as Trinity got off the canvas.

Away from Simon and Catalans, it was a mixed weekend for the French foreign legion. Gambolling Gadwin Springer’s unorthodox mobility has gone down a storm with the Cas fans, while Ben Jullien started well but faded with his Warrington teammates in the face of a surprising Tigers mauling and Theo Fages got a try for a spineless St Helens humiliated by Huddersfield.

Saints boosted the Welsh presence on show by handing a debut to Aberavon rugby union product Calvin Wellington. The lithe young centre, like a frolicking carefree fawn wearing scraps of Joseph’s amazing technicolored dreamcoat (Saints’ special strip to increase autism awareness), lasted 42 mainly quiet minutes, apart from a dropped pass that cost a try.

Clubcall: Leeds Rhinos

When the fixtures for Magic were devised – and a fine set they were – a Leeds v Wigan grand final rematch seemed an excellent choice to close Saturday’s proceedings and one that would draw a big TV audience. Little did the bods at Media City know that the Rhinos would be wounded beyond repair by now.

Leeds have been accused of being sore losers by some this season, but when Mitch Achurch pulled a try back while they were down to 12 men, they switched from the Mexican wave to defiant chants of Marching on Together.

The game deteriorated in quality as Leeds sought honour in defeat and they found it. When an opponent’s conversion attempt hits both posts and the bar and goes over you know it’s not your day. Leeds lack leadership from their senior players, while it didn’t seem clear what Jordan Lilley’s role was in a bumbling attack. There were some tiny bright spots: when Kallum Watkins went over for the opening try, the Leazes End exploded like the Toon Army do when Newcastle United score a screamer (rare recently), and Brian McDermott handed a sixth debut of the season, this time to another local youngster in Sam Hallas.

By the time the Leeds players went to applaud their fans after the game finally ended – the second period had started 64 minutes after kick-off thanks to a busy video ref, the real ref straining his calf, and an awful lot of half-time ads on Sky – there was hardly a soul left. Almost every other club in Super League has known how they feel in some previous season or other.

Goal-line drop-out

Last week Huddersfield star Danny Brough confirmed he would be available to captain Scotland again in the Four Nations, ignoring any need for a proper off-season once again. “There was no decision to make really,” he told me.

If anyone doubted that the 33-year-old halfback still has it, his performance against St Helens underlined how vital he is to the Bravehearts’ huge challenge. He cajoled his team-mates, screamed and schemed, tackled like a demon, drove Saints back with kicks to the corners, kicked conversions from the touch line, bust a gut to shepherd Jamie Ellis over the line and was a general world-class nuisance.

All of this while wearing one fluorescent green boot and one pink, green and black one. Yes, really. At least they kept him on his feet, unlike several other players who spent the weekend slipping on to their backsides. It was only a matter of time until someone’s slip up would lead to an injury. Sure enough, Hull KR’s Thomas Minns was the unfortunate fall guy. Time for some sensible studded boots, fellas.

Fifth and last

Tenth Magic Weekend shows rugby league has found a fine host in Newcastle Read more

After a record breaking 68,286 attendance, the question doing the rounds on Saturday night was “Where next?” For many fans that meant which bar, for the press and RFL officials it was which city should host Magic next year?

While everyone loved Newcastle, there was concern about three years in the same place, as fans may decide that is one too many. Cardiff got positive vibes but Coventry’s Ricoh Arena was dismissed as being too small (the RFL targeted 70,000 tickets and it would only have a two-day maximum of 65,000). The most likely destination seems Stratford, with the belief that West Ham’s presence will have softened up the Olympic Stadium by then, and early summer in the Olympic Park could be delightful. With no England game in London in 2017, that remains favourite.

No one mentioned Glasgow but Ibrox, Celtic and Hampden all have the desired 50,000 capacity and the RFL had advanced positive talks with Event Scotland over the Four Nations. Other future destinations discussed included Barcelona and Dublin. One day, perhaps. One day.

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