Even if that's true, I still think it's a load of $hit!

IIRC it was

Top 8 in one hat
Bottom 6 in one hat

So a Top 8 team plays another Top 8 team and a Bottom 6 side plays another Bottom 6 side

Crusaders (14) v Bradford (9)
Hull FC (12) v Harlequins (11)
Salford (13) v Warrington (10)
Leeds (1) v Wakefield (5)

Castleford (7) v Catalan (icon_cool.gif
Huddersfield (3) v Wigan (6)
St.Helens (2) v Hull KR (4)

Basically, wires have been rewarded for inconsistency.

The league positions this year could very well be decided on points difference.

I enjoyed the weekend in Cardiff, and with the games being the derbys it made it more of an event, as a sport we can't afford to just play home and away, we need events like these to generate cash to fund the grassroots of the game.

Many's the time I've watch Tommy Copper and Paul Daniels pull things from hats, albeit I saw it with my own eyes, I still can't believe its true

I would scrap it and the sooner the better. If they want to promote the game and give it some credibility to the international game then have a Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England affair.
Each year at a different venue, Murrayfield, Dublin, Cardiff and Leeds, we might actually get some interest from non heartland supporters who are willing to watch the game because of its national value.

For me the "magic/wacky" weekend has run its course the novelty value has wore off, its more or less being exploited by the local buisnesses in the area.
Its a "heads you lose tails you lose", with the pathetic figure of 26000 fans. For example if there were say 5000 locals watching the game then its a flop for heartland supporters, if there were say less than 1000 locals watching the game then its a flop for the expansionists of the game.

We did a sample last year and found that the club fans who don,t get the opportunity to see there club reach the challenge cup or grand final are more inclined to vote for the magic weekend.
Whilst the supporters of the more successful clubs just see it fom a novelty point of view.

Well done for stating the bleeding obvious !

I'm not surprised. We got on the ground at half time in the opening game and stayed until the end of the Leeds game. I had a rugby shirt on, hoodie, winter coat and a scarf and was still freezing ! The final fixture aside the games were all a bit one sided to be exciting too. I don't blame most fans watching their own game and then getting off to the pub. £ 4 for a drink in Murrayfield too and big £ for food.

Its nice and sunny this morning hopefully a degree or two warmer in the stadium !!

I think we all know it will be the last MM

would it be better to have 1st v 2nd 3rd v 4th etc as of a couple of weeks before the event, therefore ensuring that we have 7 close games?

You could to make it more competitive and promotive to the game. But I wouldn,t count it as a superleague fixture.

no. But we especially dont need one in Edinburgh

The Magic idea is a sound one,but I think its perhaps as good as its going to be, I would prefer to give some double headers a chance instead perhaps.

I tell you what, Frodo should have been occupying one of those spare seats the dirty grub. My little lad loves his wrestling and jumped up when he did that, "Forearm smash" he screamed.

why did you constantly keep counting the fans?

I like the idea of having a round of games outside the parameters; it was a fantastic idea and grew to a good stage in Cardiff until the RFL pulled out.

Edinburgh on the contrary has been perplexingly bad for RL. Poor attendances, poor rugby in some games and just a general distaste for going to Scotland. If the Magic weekend stays then its all well and good but please to god not in Scotland!!

Take it to Paris? Dublin? Barcelona?

Take it to Paris? Dublin? Barcelona?'"