This yr’s venue for the Betfred Tremendous League’s Magic Weekend is as near a house venue with out really being at house as Leeds Rhinos may get – even when they’re nominally the ‘away’ workforce for his or her match in opposition to Warrington Wolves.
Elland Highway, the house of the town’s soccer membership Leeds United, is only a four-mile drive south from the Rhinos’ AMT Headingley floor and isn’t precisely unfamiliar territory for them down the years both.
It was host to Leeds’ World Membership Problem triumphs over Canterbury Bulldogs and Melbourne Storm in 2005 and 2008, plus two Tremendous League matches within the 2018 season. There are these of one other technology who will keep in mind practically 23,000 being there to see Mal Reilly’s aspect beat Castleford within the outdated Yorkshire Cup remaining in 1988 as effectively – a uncommon trophy for the membership in that period.
So, whereas the choice to relocate Magic Weekend from Newcastle’s St James’ Park to Elland Highway might not have been universally welcomed, there will probably be little grumbling from anybody related to the Rhinos and captain Cameron Smith is relishing the event.
“I can’t wait, and it almost feels like a home game,” Smith informed Sky Sports activities. “We’re not too distant from Headlingley, and with the connection between United and Leeds Rhinos, the folks of Leeds will probably be wanting to return right here and help us.
“There’s loads happening, however our preparation will nonetheless be the identical and it is simply one other recreation.
“We’re the last game and we’re used to playing late, but we’ll be focused on our game and nothing else.”
Added to the thrill for Leeds is the actual fact they head into this recreation on the again of a shock 30-4 demolition of reigning champions Wigan Warriors final week.
Saturday’s match in opposition to Warrington, the ultimate recreation of day certainly one of Magic Weekend 2024 (7.30pm, dwell on Sky Sports activities Motion), comes barely 5 weeks after the final assembly between the groups which noticed the Wolves triumph 30-18 on the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
It was that recreation which noticed Brad Arthur get a glimpse of the workforce in particular person for the primary time as effectively, having simply arrived within the nation after being appointed head coach till the tip of the season following the departure of Rohan Smith.
Outcomes have continued to be up and down – two wins and two defeats – for the reason that 50-year-old took cost contemporary from over a decade on the reins of NRL aspect Parramatta Eels. But Arthur noticed the beautiful win over Wigan as an indication of the progress he has seen from the workforce since he got here on board.
“We’ve been chasing that 80-minute effort and I thought we did that,” Arthur informed Sky Sports activities.
“I’m disappointed we leaked a try because I felt like we’d done enough. We lacked a little bit of detail at times, but we’re getting better at it, and you can see some signs.
“It is very arduous for me to be vital as a result of they labored their backsides off.”
Even with that victory over a Warriors aspect which has swept all earlier than them in rugby league over the previous yr, heading into Magic Weekend, the Rhinos are nonetheless 4 factors off the play-off locations with six video games of the common season remaining.
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Highlights from final Saturday’s Betfred Tremendous League conflict between Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors
Failure to make the highest six for the second yr in a row, having gone on an unbelievable run to succeed in the Grand Last in Smith’s first season in cost in 2022, is near-on unthinkable for the eight-time Tremendous League champions, despite the fact that the final of these titles got here in 2017.
Backing up that win at house to Wigan with victory over a Warrington aspect which harbours their very own title ambitions would do a lot to strengthen these play-off hopes and free ahead Smith has each motive to be assured going into Magic Weekend.
“I think we’re really positive and I feel like we’ve been due a decent win in these last couple of weeks,” Smith mentioned.
“We’ve had some good performances, but we’ve almost beaten ourselves.
Brad Arthur is contracted with Leeds till the tip of the 2024 season
“We come into the game with some confidence and some momentum.”
No matter occurs on Saturday night although, the long-term future for Arthur past this season stays up within the air.
The Australian has been constant in his view the Rhinos gamers want to indicate they need him to nonetheless be on the helm in 2025.
“They need to show me that again this week – and the week after that,” Arthur mentioned.
Watch each match of the Betfred Tremendous League’s 2024 Magic Weekend dwell on Sky Sports activities on August 17 and 18. Additionally stream with NOW.
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and will probably be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities clients entry to over 50 per cent extra dwell sport this yr at no further value. Discover out extra right here.
