Super League Magic Weekend 2023: Everything you need to know including kick-off times
Picture by Owen Humphreys/PA Archive/PA Images.
Super League Magic Weekend 2023 is heading to Newcastle United’s St James’ Park for the seventh time this year, with all six top flight fixtures set to take place across this weekend.
Super League’s showcase event moved from Manchester’s Etihad Stadium to the north east for the first time in 2015, with Cardiff and Edinburgh also previously hosting the weekend.
Liverpool’s Anfield played hosts in 2019, while 2020 was cancelled due to the pandemic.
The action gets underway on Saturday June 3 between Salford and Hull KR, followed by two more games on that day, before three on the Sunday.
Days, kick-off times and coverage for Super League Magic Weekend 2023
Saturday
Salford v Hull KR (1:30pm, Sky Sports Arena)
Wigan v Catalans (3:45pm, Sky Sports Arena)
Leeds v Castleford (6pm, Sky Sports Arena)
Sunday
Wakefield v Leigh (12pm, Sky Sports Arena)
St Helens v Huddersfield (2:15pm, Sky Sports Arena)
Hull v Warrington (4:30pm, Sky Sports Arena)
What was Magic Weekend’s highest crowd?
The 2016 Magic Weekend in Newcastle holds the highest aggregate for an attendance for the event with 68,276.
Last year, 62,154 attended the weekend which included two French sides participating for the first time ever in Catalans and Toulouse.
The Sunday figure in 2022 – 25,333 – was the lowest daily attendance in Magic Weekend history.
The peak day for the event came in 2015, the only time the 40,000 mark has been hit on a single day. A total of 40,871 watched Widnes beat Salford, Hull FC triumph against derby rivals Hull KR and then Wigan beat Leeds.
68,276 – 2016 (Newcastle)
67,841 – 2015 (Newcastle)
65,407 – 2018 (Newcastle)
64,552 – 2014 (Manchester)
64,319 – 2018 (Newcastle)
63,716 – 2012 (Manchester)
63,144 – 2008 (Cardiff)
62,154 – 2022 (Newcastle)
62,042 – 2013 (Manchester)
60,866 – 2021 (Newcastle)
60,214 – 2011 (Cardiff)
59,749 – 2009 (Edinburgh)
58,831 – 2007 (Cardiff)
56,869 – 2019 (Liverpool)
52,043 – 2010 (Edinburgh)
Rail strikes
Rail strikes are expected on Saturday June 3, which is the first day of this year’s Magic Weekend. It is also the same date as the FA Cup final and the Epsom Derby.
The governing body confirmed that it was already looking to minimise the impact the strikes will have on Magic Weekend.
An RFL spokesperson said: “We are in the process of assessing the impact of these strikes on relevant services across the Magic Weekend.
“It is our understanding the action will be restricted to Saturday June 3, so hopefully those planning to travel on Friday 2nd or Sunday 4th will not be affected – but clearly, any impact on services on Saturday 3rd would be unhelpful, and we will work with clubs and supporters to find alternatives.”
A train strike previously hit the 2018 Super League Grand Final, while the Challenge Cup’s previous regular slot on Bank Holiday Monday in August was often hit by train cancellations and maintenance work.
Coach options remain available from Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester to Newcastle on the Saturday via Super League.
How to get tickets
St James’ Park holds an attendance of 52,305 and supporters can still purchase tickets for 2023 Magic Weekend.
Tickets for each day are on sale via Super League’s website, as well as options for the full weekend to watch all 12 teams in action.
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