If they are having a Hull Derby to boost the crowds why not have a Saints Wigan Derby game as well. Afterall it's the biggest derby in Rugby according to their fans.

Agree with Fosdyke an unnecessary extra game time to get rid.

It's about time the fans saw this for what it is,another money making gimmick from the RL with the owners consent.All the cost of travel,new one off shirts etc,etc, and you are having a considerable lay out,especially if you have kids.We will be having a friendly and two other games at least,they are killing the excitement of the derby matches.The usual clique will be telling us mere supporters what a great concept Magic Weekend is,I'd say the same if everything was free.

If the RFL are using the Magic Weekend as an excuse to move the Cup Final away from Wembley, then maybe fans should boycott MW

Another derby and the last game on the Sunday. Could it get any worse? Think I'll give it a miss.

Cost wise, you don't have to go or buy a MW shirt.

I agree on the derby's, 4 times minimum next year is way too often.

MW as obviously successful as a money spinner for the RFL, but it has its drawbacks as it distorts the fixture list and has no real focus on expansion.

I think your right.
Very very poor planning by the RFL
At least they should have had the Hull game as the second match of the day.That way it would have kept most people in the stadium

Pleased its staying in Newcastle as I like the City and the ground, but have to agree with others that the Sunday lineup is looking poor, they really are relying on a big turnout of FC and Rovers fans.

Whinge whinge whinge whinge whinge.

I couldn't care less about the line ups. I'm off to watch my team play and that's that.
Not bothered who's playing who and it's not fair they're playing them attitude of some.
Why don't people embrace it for what it is. A weekend of rugby in a vibrant city, not replicated in this country by any other sport.

Can I agree with some of that, but for me, its the embarrassment of seeing an empty stadium on the TV, dont think it does any good for our amazing game, and it will be empty come 5 on the sunday

I guess I would agree with most of the above I suppose, but its so contrived which is fine for a tournament as such, bring it on, if it were for instance a 9 competition between all the SL Clubs, but to make it a round of the Super league competition with points at stake and say that the event will feature local Derby's (as they did a few years ago) then let some teams (Wigan v Saints and before the demise of Bradford Bulls, Bradford v Leeds) weedle out of it is wrong for me.

In the end The RL just sit in a room to decide just who plays who and when, without any sort of formula (no seeding, or based on league positions last year, or all Derby's) just to, in effect, generate a gate and try and get as many there as possible and that is just a 'plastic' set up for me.

It is not a level playing field for all clubs however because as its a league game the two points at stake could in the end mean relegation or the top four for some clubs and the reverse for others and their fate could be decided by a few suits picking who they play at the Magic event.

However then, taking the contrived nature of the whole thing into consideration to have a very senior member of the games administration use its 'success' as an excuse to move the Challenge Cup Final away from Wembley well personally that takes some beating really!

Only my view of course!