St Helens revive Super League hopes with Magic Weekend future in balance

The curtain has fallen on the Magic Weekend, potentially for the final time. IMG will make a definitive decision in the coming weeks whether an event that has been a staple on the Super League calendar for more than 15 years fits into the American media brand’s plan to redevelop rugby league and revitalise its long-term prospects.

There have already been suggestions that while IMG admires the concept of all 12 teams playing in the same stadium on the same weekend, which remains popular among players and spectators, there could be an opportunity to freshen things up. But whatever happens with the competition’s annual trip to Newcastle, this year’s edition will have had a significant impact in shaping the end-of-season fortunes of almost every team in 2023.

On Saturday the big winners were Catalans, who moved top of the table with victory against Wigan, and Castleford, who eased their own relegation fears with a pulsating West Yorkshire derby victory against Leeds Rhinos.

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Sunday was arguably even more season-defining, though. This competitive and unpredictable season has been epitomised by the fact the team who have won the past four titles sat outside the playoff places heading into Magic Weekend. This could be the weekend where St Helens’s quest for an unprecedented fifth successive Super League title came to life, though.

For 80 minutes on Sunday afternoon at St James’ Park it felt like the St Helens of old had resurfaced. Granted their opponents here were timid to say the least, but sides better than Huddersfield would have struggled to contain Paul Wellens’s side on this form. The Saints were majestic, with the winger Tommy Makinson scoring four tries and setting a Magic Weekend record for most points by an individual in one game, finishing with 28 of the Saints’ 48 as they breezed past a Giants team who are now 10th and continue to underwhelm despite a significant financial outlay this year under Ian Watson.

The Saints have stuttered in Wellens’s first season in charge, perhaps not aided by their trip to Australia in February to win the World Club Challenge, which has undoubtedly left a hangover on their performances in 2023. But this could be a day that ignites a spark in the reigning champions, with some of their play here supremely entertaining.

“I’m very happy,” Wellens said afterwards. “I had a great feeling all week. We had real energy about us and I sensed a big performance. I don’t mean in terms of racking up points, but a team sticking to their identity.”

The Saints are now sixth and in the top half of a table which has a peculiar regional split to it. All six Yorkshire-based sides are in the bottom half while the top six comprises teams from the other side of the Pennines plus Catalans, who remain top after Warrington missed the chance to return to the summit following defeat against Hull FC in the final match of the day. The Wolves led 12-6 at half-time and had a plethora of chances to extend that lead, were it not for some spirited defensive efforts from Hull, whose own early-season problems now appear to be behind them.

A hat-trick from Hull’s Josh Griffin and a sensational performance from the half-back Jake Clifford ultimately helped the Black and Whites to win 30-18 to cut the gap to the playoffs to six points. Warrington were magnificent in the opening 10 rounds but of late they have started to wobble and they have now lost four of their past six games. For the first time this year they are perhaps no longer favourites to finish the season on top.

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And while the future of Magic Weekend remains up for debate, one thing which looks more conclusive after this weekend’s fixtures is the fact that Wakefield Trinity will not be participating next year, should the format survive. Castleford’s victory on Saturday night left them six points shy of safety and, as such, heightened the need for their first win of the season against Leigh in the opening game on Sunday. Wakefield fell 10-0 behind early on but their hopes would have been raised when Leigh’s Ben Reynolds was sent off for punching David Fifita with over 50 minutes remaining.

But the side who have lost without scoring five times already this season failed to capitalise. In the end they were well-beaten 30-4 by a Leigh team who are now fourth. Despite only being promoted this season, the Leopards are on course for the playoffs while Wakefield, it seems, are heading for the Championship.

“It sums up the story of our year so far, anyone watching that game as a neutral and turned up at half-time would probably think we’re the team down to 12 men,” their coach, Mark Applegarth, said.

Super League was quick to declare the weekend a success as it drew to a conclusion on Sunday evening, with more than 63,000 fans attending across the weekend representing the highest Magic crowd for five years. Time will tell if that, and a fascinating weekend of action on the field, is enough to earn the event a stay of execution.