If this is to be the final Magic Weekend in Newcastle, then all the signs point to the event going out on a high. There have been no shortage of upsets and standout moments in the 11-year history of rugby league’s annual on-the-road round and the opening day of the 2017 event had a heartening mix of everything.
The middle salvo of an encouraging first act to the weekend offered up one of the event’s most surprising results in recent years. Seven days ago, St Helens would have been forgiven for dreading the prospect of facing second-placed Hull here, but with their new coach, Justin Holbrook, taking his place in the stands for the first time, one always suspected the Saints would raise their game – although surely not to this level.
For long periods this season, the Saints have looked more like relegation candidates as opposed to title contenders – but here, they were simply sensational. Eight unanswered tries and a ruthlessness in defence unseen this year just 48 hours into Holbrook’s tenure was undoubtedly the result of the day: even if the man himself refused to take too much credit for the 45-0 win. “I obviously came in at a good time,” he said with a smile. “The boys were hurting a lot after getting bundled out of the Challenge Cup last week, but all the credit goes to them for putting in a performance like that.”
But there was perhaps as much intrigue off the field as well as on it. It is not uncommon for some cameo appearances in the stands at Magic and the sighting of the former NRL star Ben Barba certainly got tongues wagging midway through Saints’ dazzling display against Hull. Barba tested positive for cocaine last year shortly after helping Cronulla to the title and a spell in French rugby union with Toulon seems to be coming to an early conclusion, leading to inevitable speculation that he will join Super League.
Holbrook refused to dampen this down post-match. When asked if he was interested, the St Helens coach said: “Definitely. I think it would be great for Super League to get such an exciting player. He’s been frustrated with how it went in rugby union. It would be really awesome to get him come on board and it would be nice to have him join the squad.”
Warrington are the other club heavily linked with Barba and, while St Helens produced the performance of the day, the Wolves were embroiled in the standout game, a thrilling 24-24 draw with Wigan. The Wolves never led until the final four minutes, when Jack Hughes’ late try looked to have edged an entertaining, albeit scrappy, finale to day one. However, the England captain, Sean O’Loughlin, produced a magnificent kick for Joe Burgess to touch down in the corner. George Williams could not convert from the touchline, meaning both sides picked up the point they deserved in front of a healthy day one crowd of 35,361. Organisers are quietly confident that the third-highest aggregate Magic crowd will be reached with Sunday’s attendance.
Wakefield were the other winners on day one as they moved to within two points of the top four with victory against Widnes in the opening game. Trinity have made great strides under Chris Chester in the last 12 months and they look almost assured of a second consecutive top-eight finish after another encouraging display, rarely looking troubled by a side with just two wins to their name.
The Widnes debut of the former Man of Steel Rangi Chase was ultimately unable to inspire an improved effort from the Vikings. Two tries from Scott Grix, either side of one for Reece Lyne, put Trinity into a commanding 16-0 half-time lead. Ben Jones-Bishop extended the advantage and, despite tries from Ryan Ince and Hep Cahill for the Vikings, Trinity finished the stronger of the two sides as Jones-Bishop’s second and one for Matty Ashurst secured the 34-12 victory.
