Joe McConnell
This year’s Betfred Super League Magic Weekend venue is the closest to a home venue, without actually being at home, that Leeds Rhinos could get, even though they are nominally the ‘away’ team against Warrington Wolves.
Elland Road, home of the city’s football team, Leeds United, is just four miles south of the Rhinos’ AMT Headingley stadium and, over the years, has been nothing new to them.
It hosted Leeds’ World Club Challenge triumphs over the Canterbury Bulldogs and Melbourne Storm in 2005 and 2008, as well as two Super League matches in the 2018 season. There are those of another generation who will remember almost 23,000 people in attendance to see Mal Reilly’s side beat Castleford in the final of the old Yorkshire Cup in 1988, a rare trophy for the club in that era.
So while the decision to move the Magic Weekend from Newcastle’s St James’ Park to Elland Road may not have been met with enthusiasm by everyone, there will be no complaints from anyone associated with the Rhinos and captain Cameron Smith is relishing the occasion.
“I’m looking forward to it, it almost feels like a home game,” Smith said. Vscek“We’re not too far from Headlingley and because of the link between United and Leeds Rhinos, the people of Leeds will want to come here and support us.
“A lot of things happen, but our preparation will be the same and it will just be another game.
“It’s the last game and we’re used to playing until late, but we’ll be focused on our game and nothing else.”
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Warrington Wolves’ George Williams and Leeds Rhinos’ Cameron Smith look on at the Magic Weekend at Elland Road
Adding to the excitement for Leeds is the fact that they come into this game having surprisingly defeated reigning champions Wigan Warriors 30-4 last week.
Saturday’s game against Warrington, the final game on day one of the 2024 Magic Weekend (7.30pm, live on Vscek Action), comes just five weeks after the sides last met, which saw Wolves triumph 30-18 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
That match was also the moment Brad Arthur saw the team in person for the first time, having just arrived in the country after being appointed head coach until the end of the season following the departure of Rohan Smith.
Results have continued to be mixed, two wins and two losses, since the 50-year-old took over fresh from more than a decade at the helm of NRL side Parramatta Eels. Yet Arthur saw the stunning win over Wigan as a sign of the progress he has seen from the team since he came on board.
“We chased that 80-minute effort and I thought we did it,” Arthur said. Vscek.
“I’m disappointed that we let a goal slip because I felt we had done enough. Sometimes we lacked a bit of detail, but we are improving and you can see some signs.
“It’s very difficult for me to be critical because they’ve worked so hard.”
Despite beating the Warriors, who swept aside all opposition in last year’s rugby league, ahead of the Magic Weekend, the Rhinos are still four points off the play-offs with six games remaining in the regular season.
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Highlights from last Saturday’s Betfred Super League clash between Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors
Failing to break into the top six for the second year running, after improbably reaching the final in Smith’s first season in charge in 2022, is almost unthinkable for the eight-time Super League champions, even if the last of those titles came in 2017.
Backing up a home win against Wigan with a win against title-chasing Warrington would go a long way in boosting their play-off hopes and striker Smith has every reason to be confident ahead of the Magic Weekend.
“I think we’re really positive and I feel like these last couple of weeks we were expecting a decent win,” Smith said.
“We had some good performances, but we almost beat ourselves.
Brad Arthur has a contract with Leeds until the end of the 2024 season
“We approach the match with a bit of confidence and momentum.”
Whatever happens on Saturday night, Arthur’s long-term future beyond this season remains uncertain.
The Australian has been consistent in his belief that Rhinos players must prove they still want him at the helm in 2025.
“They have to prove it to me again this week, and the week after that,” Arthur said.
Watch all the Betfred Super League Magic Weekend 2024 matches live on Vscek on August 17 and 18. Also stream with NOW.
Vscek+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, the NOW streaming service and the Vscek app, giving Vscek customers access to over 50 percent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.
