Magic WKND Preview

It's the moment we've all been waiting for! Every Rugby League fan’s favourite weekend is back for 2025!

Magic Weekend will celebrate its 18th birthday this weekend and makes its eagerly anticipated return to its spiritual home St. James' Park - ten years since Super League’s first Magic Weekend in Newcastle in 2015!

Are you joining us in Newcastle for #MagicWKND? ?

There's still time to get your tickets for #SuperLeague's annual Rugby League festival at St James' Park ? pic.twitter.com/XzS3PmwX6Y

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 27, 2025

It will be eighth time in the subsequent decade that Rugby League has staged its unique festival at the iconic home of Newcastle United FC.

All six Magic fixtures (Round 10) will be shown live and exclusively on Sky Sports, as we hit a third of the way through the season!

With a blockbuster Betfred Super League line-up, bumper crowds, and plenty happening in and around the stadium, will you be taking full advantage of the Bank Holiday brilliance and a weekend of Rugby League’s epic extravaganza in the Toon?

Here’s a lowdown on the six Magic matches…prepare to be entertained!

12 TEAMS. 2 DAYS. 1 EPIC EVENT.

#MagicWKND is almost here! ?#SuperLeague

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 28, 2025

Saturday 3 May

Leigh Leopards v Catalans Dragons (15.00)

It’s a first Magic Weekend meeting between Leigh and Catalans, with the teams entering Saturday's curtain raiser in fine form.

Both sides have won their last three Super League matches, which means we could be in for a cracking Magic WKND opener!

They last met in Round 3 where the Leopards defeated the Dragons 34-6, although the Dragons have come on leaps and bounds, impressively since then.

The likes of Tesi Niu, Umyla Hanley and Edwin Ipape return for the Leopards' tie in Newcastle.

The Dragons will be without Magic Weekend star Tommy Makinson, although are boosted by the Sam Tomkins' inclusion in their squad. Léo Darrélatour also replaces Franck Maria.

Hull KR v Salford Red Devils (17.15)

Saturday’s second game will see table toppers Hull KR take on Salford Red Devils.

The sides have only ever met once at Magic Weekend, with Salford claiming the spoils 16-26 at St. James’ Park in 2023.

This year, however, the Robins come into this match with top spot to lose, so we can certainly expect the very best from Willie Peters’ men on the big stage.

Their last encounter came in Round 3, where KR enjoyed a convincing 42-0 victory on home soil.

Hull KR have named their Magic 21, but are still missing Tom Davies and Joe Burgess for this one. They will also be without powerhouse Kelepi Tanginoa on the trip to Newcastle, sits due to a failed HIA in their victory over Leeds last week.

Meanwhile, Salford are boosted by the return of Ethan Ryan, Chris Hankinson and Matty Foster to their squad just in time for Magic!  

St Helens v Leeds Rhinos (19.30)

There’s a corker on the cards with the first ever Magic staging of a classic Super League rivalry between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos on Saturday night.

The atmosphere will be building all day for this one. It's a colossal clash between 5th and 6th in the table to round off Day One of Magic WKND, where the two points on offer are significant for either side and their Play-Off intentions in 2025.

In history, both clubs have won nine Magic Weekend games apiece, but who will move into double digits come the end of this weekend?

Round 9 saw Saints fall to a disappointing defeat against Warrington, whilst Leeds came up just short against Hull KR.

With both looking to bounce back at the first attempt up in Newcastle, it’s bound to be a truly intense battle!

There are two changes to Paul Wellens’ match day squad that he last declared for Round 9, with Ben Davies and Jake Burns stepping out.

Jake Wingfield is back in contention for selection, following head injury protocols which made him not available to play since the Challenge Cup Quarter Final against Warrington nearly four weeks ago.

Deon Cross is included for the very first time in Saints’ squad selection after recently joining the club on a two-and-a-half-year deal. The 28-year-old is therefore in line to make his official Saints debut, which would be a special occasion for the hometown man.

Rhinos Head Coach Brad Arthur has named an unchanged squad for their Magic Weekend encounter.

This is the first meeting between the sides in Super League this season with Saints having knocked Leeds out of the Betfred Challenge Cup in the Fourth Round at the Totally Wicked Stadium. 

Sunday 4 May

Huddersfield Giants v Hull FC (13.00)

Day Two of Magic WKND kicks off with Huddersfield and Hull FC going head-to-head.

It’s Huddersfield Giants who hold the record for the most Magic Weekend wins in history with 11 victories, including a 55-2 thrashing over the Black & Whites at Anfield in 2019.

Luke Robinson's men may be rooted to the bottom of the table and pointless ahead of this Sunday’s meeting with Hull, but the Giants certainly know how to perform in a Magic setting…

Round 3 saw a close contest unfold between the two sides, where the moment of the game came from young Harvey Barron who scored a length of the field try to bring Hull back into the match, before Aidan Sezer nailed a drop goal to clinch an 11-10 victory at the John Smith's Stadium.

FC have won five more matches Huddersfield in 2025, but who will be going home happy in Magic Weekend?

Huddersfield have a huge boost ahead of Magic, with playmaker and leader Adam Clune back in the 21-man squad! 

For Hull, John Cartwright has made two changes to his side - Jordan Rapana could be back in action following a minor groin issue, whilst Sam Eseh is available again after Hull went up against his parent club last time out.

Will Gardiner and Callum Kemp make way in the 21-man squad this week.

Wigan Warriors v Warrington Wolves (15.15)

There’s a mouthwatering middle fixture on the Sunday, as two Rugby League rivals face off on a big stage once more.

It's a repeat of 2024 Betfred Challenge Cup Final between Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves as the Sunday afternoon centrepiece, as well as their fifth ever Magic fixture.

There have been a series of highly competitive fixtures between the two heavyweights over the years – and where Magics are concerned, the Wolves have won the last two against the Warriors (in 2019 and 2021), with Wigan winning once in 2018 and their first ever Magic encounter ending in a thrilling 24-24 draw.

They last faced each other in Las Vegas where Wigan produced a stunning performance to triumph 48-24 at the Allegiant Stadium.

Sam Burgess' Wire will be hoping to right their wrongs from this loss and prove they can be contenders once more this year, whilst Wigan have their champions title to defend and are hot on Hull KR's heels for first place.

Not only is it going to get electric, but it's another incredible venue to be able to showcase themselves and capitvate the crowd at St. James' Park...

There's one change in the teams news for Wigan - Tyler Dupree replaces Jacob Douglas.

There's a few blows for Warrington, who are without Matty Ashton who has to sit out under concussion protocols. Toby King is ruled out with a groin issue and Marc Sneyd is also sidelined with a fractured eye socket in the win over Saints. 

Captain George Williams is a long-term absentee with an ankle injury. Arron Lindop returns however, with Jake Thewlis recalled from his loan at Salford. 

Castleford Tigers v Wakefield Trinity (17.30)

Wakefield Trinity will mark their return to Magic after a one-year absence from Super League with a match against their local rivals Castleford Tigers to round off the weekend on Sunday evening - and it’s their first Magic meeting in a decade.

Magic first came to the city of Newcastle in 2015, where Cas and Wakefield brought the curtain down. Fittingly, they will do the same again exactly ten years later this Sunday.

This will be the seventh Magic fixture between the two West Yorkshire neighbours, with Castleford having won four of their previous six encounters, including each of the last three.

Trinity beat the Tigers by a single point in Rivals Round just a fortnight ago in the most dramatic and nerve shredding of circumstances.

After a tale of two halves, Mason Lino's drop goal would prove to be the match-winner after Daejarn Asi’s last-gasp attempt on the hooter floated agonisingly inches wide.

More fireworks are expected on Sunday evening, but who will claim bragging rights at Magic Weekend?

A welcome sight for all Wakefield fans will be the return of Jake Trueman after a number of weeks out with a back injury with Matty Russell also recovering from a rib injury he sustained against Leigh Leopards in the Challenge Cup. 

Powell confirmed in the press this week, however, that his side will be without the firepower up front of Renouf Atoni and Caleb Hamlin-Uele for the near future.

Former Salford man Chris Atkin signed for the Tigers this week - further bolsteing their squad in recent weeks, and is in line to make his debut for the club on Sunday.

Betfred Super League's Magic WKND returns to St. James' Park in Newcastle on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May!

Be a part of it and purchase your tickets online now!

Information regarding kick-off times can be found here, with ALL six games across the weekend broadcasted LIVE on Sky Sports.

Click here to read the 2025 Magic WKND Spectator Guide.

Click here to read the 'What's On' Magic WKND Fan Guide.

The official 2025 Magic WKND programme is now on sale – available online for £5 or a physical copy can be purchased at the St. James' Park on the Saturday and the Sunday this weekend!