Super League Magic Weekend returns to Newcastle for eighth time

It is almost 20 years since the first Magic Weekend event was held in 2007 at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium and it has been a staple on the Super League calendar ever since.

But now the event has settled on Newcastle as its most logical and loved home, can that inspire the game to break out of its heartlands?

Wigan hooker Kruise Leeming thinks so.

“I’m all for anything that is filling stadiums and getting a load of fans together,” Leeming told BBC Sport.

“Our sport is so unique in that aspect that you can have all different sets of fans together with no trouble. It’s a family event.

“We’ve seen what happened in Vegas [with March’s rugby league festival which included a Super League game between Wigan and Warrington] and how much of a success that was.

“To have it [Magic Weekend] in Newcastle, it’s a great venue and a great hotbed for rugby league.

“The more teams we can have in different areas of England the better. To have a team in Newcastle filling out this stadium every week, it would be a dream.”

So, what does the event mean to someone relatively new to Magic Weekend?

Hull FC forward Herman Ese’ese believes a stadium with the stature of St James’ Park is befitting the event.

“I’m a big fan, I got my first taste last year in Leeds – it’s great for the fans and the game and I’m really excited about it,” he told BBC Sport.

“My first thought was how big the stadium is compared to some we play at during the season.

“It’s exciting for all the teams to come here and spend some time together and play at a nice stadium.”