Disconnects between events in the northern and southern hemisphere are pretty much a constant in rugby league.
I remember as we prepared to host a world record rugby league crowd at the opening of the then-Stadium Australia in 1999, there was only a vague awareness that the previous mark was 102,575 set at the Challenge Cup final replay in 1954.
I recall encouraging the NRL to invite Harry Bath, who played in ’54, to the ’99 game as a guest. In all likelihood he was the only man there both days, 45 years apart.
The attendance was 104,583 and then the record was broken again at the end of the year for the grand final between St George Illawarra and Melbourne.
Yet yesterday the Rugby Football League Tweeted about Odsal and it was unclear if they knew the record had been broken twice since. Like I said, a terminal disconnect within a small sport with just two full-time pro competitions; a sport that that could and should be more united.
The Magic Round is another one.
I’ve seen social media posts about magic tricks and confusion generally about both the name and the purpose of the event, to be held at Suncorp Stadium this weekend after 12 years in Britain.
The Newcastle Knights (Tony Feder/Getty Images)
As someone on social media reminded me, the origins of the term ‘Magic’ are a simple piece of alliteration: it was held at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in 2007 and hence dubbed ‘Millennium Magic’.
When it moved to Edinburgh in 2009, thy didn’t go with Edinburgh Ecstasy. It became Magic Weekend.
True, ‘Magic’ is used a little more widely in conversation in the UK than in Australia. It doesn’t have to have a supernatural connotation.
“We did the Westgate Run (a Wakefield pub crawl) for our Matthew’s stag do – it were magic!” is something you might hear.
Magic Weekend in England this year is struggling a little to sell tickets. It’s at Anfield, Liverpool, which is in easy driving distance of most of rugby league’s heartlands and the concept was sort of born out of the idea of a weekend away in a city centre, with plenty of bars and restaurants in easy walking distance.
For Liverpool, many fans can just go watch their team and go home, which kind of defeats the purpose of it all.
In this respect , Brisbane will be more true to the original idea of Magic than the event in Super League will be two weeks later.
Many fans will stay overnight, get on the sauce … and that’s what makes it lucrative to the Queensland government.
In another, very important way, the Australian event will be missing something, however. In this way, it will be more like Liverpool.
When a bunch of rugby league fans in different jerseys invade the city centre in Newcastle, Cardiff or Edinburgh, most of the locals have no idea who they are or what they’re going to watch.
These are soccer and rugby union strongholds, the invading hordes are mystifying.
Derrell Olpherts of Salford Red Devils. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Magic is not so much about expanding rugby league as about giving rugby league fans a trip away, outside their heartlands.
It does what the Challenge Cup final used to – provide a sort of chaotic northern pride march in front of curious onlookers.
That won’t be the vibe on Caxton Street. Everyone there knows what rugby league is. And if we can’t have outsiders to hold a mirror up to ourselves, we don’t learn anything about ourselves.
Magic in the UK used to be where we showed the outside world who we were. Adelaide or Perth would perhaps provide this but they don’t have city centre rectangular stadiums – which makes it difficult.
Magic Round or Weekend is supposed to be a pilgrimage. As rugby league fans, it’s supposed to remind us what unites us, regardless of the team we follow.
It’s a celebration of being a rugby league fan, not just a chance to see a whole round in the same place.
Nat
Roar Guru
Best tell your NSW countrymen because the only thing saving NSWRL at the moment is the prospect of the new stadia. Otherwise everything is falling behind.
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
Sorry mate. Sydney always has and always will be the heart of rugby league.
Kick n Clap
Guest
Hey Steve, We do have rectangular Stadium in Perth called the NIB or HBF stadium now.we also have the Optus stadium. By the way “There’s folklore “ that Odsal had well past the 103,000 mark.
Taree Raider
Guest
Nat the Guru, Lets see what happens this weekend. Does Brisbane really have a heart & soul?
Nat
Roar Guru
What a crock TR. Your whole argument is about 'if'. IF they are winning. IF NSW won 4 in a row... Well I guess you had to use 4 series because 3 has been done and Lang Park sold out every time. These days, tickets to an Origin at Suncorp will set you back ave $200 a seat. That would be close to $1000 for tix, drinks and food for a family for 2 hrs. But what, they get 48k instead of 50k and should be ashamed? Get over yourself. Real Fans go to GIO stadium? Mate, you couldn't half fill your ground last season so where are all these "real fans"? 11k real fans showed up while 14k seats were empty. The Roosters average more 'real fans' and they get a hiding for low crowd numbers. Parra Stadium - looks amazing and all the real fans have shown their way for what, 2 games! Had you have thrown in Newcastle, I would give you that one. As much as you may not like it, Brisbane is the heart and soul of rugby league in this country and acknowledged by everyone that has the credentials to have their opinion taken seriously. You are not one of these people.
Taree Raider
Guest
Steve, Brisbane is the Rugby League 'one town team' who have the best support every Friday night every week, IF THEY ARE WINNING! If the Bronco's aren't winning & aren't playing on Friday night then the worlds best Rugby League fans suddenly disappear. State Of Origin is the same, imagine if NSW won 4 series in a row. After the second series win, no one from Queensland would show up to the game, they probably wouldn't watch it on TV. This is supported by the fact that every game three in Brisbane where there is a chance NSW may win the series, they can't sell out Suncorp Stadium. The only magic thing about 'Magic Round' will be seeing the mostly empty stadium for the Bronco's game. All the other games will probably generate more fans. The only magic grounds at the moment are GIO Stadium & Parra's new home ground. That's because their fans are real, they stick by their teams. Both by the way have had the longest premiership droughts. Raiders/Eels fans are real. What are Bronco's fans? Queenslanders
Mama
Guest
With games being moved to the country and to Brisbane, has anyone done the analysis of who is favoured most (that is having most of their away games moved) in this process?
Nat
Roar Guru
Come on the Titans!!!!
Superspud
Roar Rookie
I'm sure the Booing of the G train will be a highlight in a pedestrian Thursday night game. A little know fact is that if the Sharks are beaten then Gallen takes the record off Queenslander Scott Prince for the most losses in the NRL. At the moment they are level on 166.
Nat
Roar Guru
Understandable train of thought. Thursday, Titans v Sharks, might be a bit short on numbers but I think the next 3 days should be +30k. WT vs Panthers will get bolstered by the following Broncos game but Saints, Souths, Cowboys, Warriors and Parra all enjoy quality support up here to attract bums-on-seats. Of course you cannot get as enthusiastic about another team scoring as you would your own but most fans are appreciative of quality football and the sound definitely resonates around the stadium.
Nat
Roar Guru
Magic Round may just be that in the north of England as an awareness campaign but in Brisbane it will be a carnival of football, an event that lots of punters will attend just for the spectacle. Caxton St will be a buzz and Random Souths Guy won't be so random and I will be there telling them all to 'go back to where ya came from!' Brisbane/Qld has a huge appetite for league and there's a lot more than just Broncos supporters who live here. The only disappointing is not going on Thursday for a nostalgic Booing of Gallen.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Thanks Steve. Certainly true that Magic is a more commonly used word in the English day to day conversation. I get the pilgrimage aspect as well. But hopefully it is an opportunity for people from regional parts of QLD and Northern NSW to make the effort to come to the footy. It doesn't increase the exposure of the game, except possibly through tv mediums - depending on the success. If it is successful, it might be something cities are willing to bid for as part of their respective tourism strategies. But I have to admit I am a sceptic for how successful this will be. I have no interest as I am worried there will be 30,000 people watching a game and 25,000 won't care because they don't support the teams on the field, so they won't react to the action on the field which makes for a pretty dull atmosphere. In the UK, 5,000 fans can sound like 20,000 fans. Not in Australia. I can't be critical of the NRL for trying something, and maybe it will go well, but it isn't for me.
Marty
Guest
One would hope that the Magic Weekend in Brisbane is a conservative dipping of the toe into the water. I suspect the idea would be to embrace other Australian and Pacific cities in the future, depending on the success of the concept in Brisbane. Sadly, I think the best place for such a weekend would be Auckland but there is no way the broadcasters would agree to relinquishing Thursday and Friday prime time broadcasts - nor would we expect 9.30pm local time kick offs.