Super League attendance record broken after Wigan Warriors and Leigh Leopards thriller
Gareth O'Brien's match-winning drop goal for Leigh Leopards against Wigan Warriors
For the second successive season, a new Super League record has been set for the highest-attended opening standalone game: with 21,478 now the tally to beat.
Officially, the first game of Magic Weekend in 2011 brought the highest opening round attendance – with 30,891 at the Millennium Stadium that day.
But in terms of a standalone opening fixture of a season, Thursday night’s clash between Wigan Warriors and Leigh Leopards at The Brick Community Stadium takes the flowers.
Sensationally, Leigh won the Round 1 clash 1-0, with Gareth O’Brien’s drop-goal securing a history-making win for the Leopards in the first period of Golden Point Extra Time after a 0-0 draw in 80 minutes.
21,478 packed into The Brick, with plenty more watching at home – and they were all treated to a spectacle both on and off the field.
Pre-game, a light show and fireworks accompanied Michael Buffer (Yes, THE Michael Buffer) welcoming the two teams to the pitch.
And the 83 minutes – or so – of action which followed were nothing short of marvellous.
Super League attendance record broken after Wigan Warriors and Leigh Leopards thriller
The clash surpasses last year’s Hull derby at the MKM Stadium on the opening night, won 22-0 by Hull KR. 20,014 were in attendance in West Hull that night for a game which saw four cards produced.
FC’s Herman Ese’ese and KR’s Matt Parcell were sin-binned, with the Airlie Birds also seeing both Franklin Pele and Ligi Sao sent off.
At Wigan on Thursday evening, the Warriors had both Liam Farrell and Adam Keighran sin-binned.
The updated list of the top ten opening night attendances in Super League can be seen below…
10. 2012 – Leeds Rhinos v Hull KR – 15,343
9. 2016 – Leeds Rhinos v Warrington Wolves – 16,168
8. 2014 – Wigan Warriors v Huddersfield Giants: 16,240
7. 2019 – St Helens v Wigan Warriors – 16,508
6. 2005 – Hull FC v Leeds Rhinos – 17,080
5. 2004 – Bradford Bulls v Wigan Warriors – 17,267
4. 1996 – PSG v Sheffield Eagles – 17,873
3. 2008 – Leeds Rhinos v Hull KR – 18,467
2. 2024 – Hull FC v Hull KR – 20,014
1. 2025 – Wigan Warriors v Leigh Leopards – 21,478
