The Magic Weekend returns for its 16th season as fans from around the Betfred Super League descend on Newcastle for two packed days of Rugby League action.

The Rhinos meet Castleford Tigers to close out Saturday's fixtures after the two Yorkshire sides battled out a 34-20 contest at St James' Park last year. Previously, the clubs also met during the 2018 and 2019 Magic Weekends, plus Leeds have also played Bradford, Catalans, Hull FC, Wakefield, London and Wigan since the festival of Rugby debuted in 2007.

Ahead of another exciting weekend in the north east, relive our classic clashes at Magic Weekend.

2007 

The inaugural Magic Weekend couldn't have had more drama when Leeds and Bradford closed out the event in Cardiff.

A tightly contested game between the two former Super League champions ebbed and flowed as both sides refused to give each other more than an inch. Going into the final moments down by two points, the opportunity to kick a penalty goal invited Kevin Sinfield to step up to level the game, but as the ball came back off the uprights, sub Jordan Tansey was there to pick up the loose ball and score one of Magic Weekend's most memorable tries.

2008

Another 40 point display a year later at the Millenium Stadium saw the reigning champions, Leeds, continue their winning form in the league.

New signing Eric Anselme marked his club debut with a try, alongside Brent Webb, Kallum Watkins, Scott Donald, Ryan Hall, Keith Senior and Kylie Leuluai in a 40-26 result.

2009

Magic Weekend travelled to Scotland in 2009 and a new opponent saw Leeds play Catalans Dragons in game six.

Again the Rhinos ran riot in a 36-16 display, Ryan Hall in particular stealing the show with two wonderful finishes. 

2010

Murrayfield played host to Leeds 2010 Magic clash with Wakefield as the struggling Rhinos looked to jump their opponents in the league table into the top eight.

Another game for the Magic history books, the Rhinos trailed by two points heading into the final five minutes, despite a Ryan Hall hat trick, until a combination of Keith Senior and Brent Webb led to Danny Buderus saving the day for Leeds.

2011

Back in Cardiff in 2011, Magic Weekend kicked off the Super League campaign that year as Leeds faced familiar foes, Bradford.

Yet again, Brian McDermott's side made the game difficult but they managed to take a 32-28 win back to Headingley. Having trailed by six points at the break, an inspired performance by young winger Ben Jones-Bishop saw him score a hat trick, including a penalty try in the final moments to give Leeds their third Magic Weekend win over the Bulls.

2012

Danny McGuire stole the show at the 2012 Magic Weekend, which was played at Manchester's Ethiad Stadium for the first time.

The half back recorded five tries in a sensational solo performance, which puts McGuire as the joint holder of the record for the most tries scored by a player in one Magic Weekend game (Warrington's Joel Monaghan scored five tries against Widnes that same year).

2013

2013 pitted Leeds against different opposition as the Rhinos faced Wigan in their first of four Magic meetings.

The Warriors broke Leeds' winning run at Magic with a 20-16 win; Kevin Sinfield, Kallum Watkins and Joe Vickery scoring the tries for Brian McDermott's side.

2014

Meeting at the Ethiad for a second year running, Wigan edged the Rhinos in a 18-14 encounter in 2014.

Anthony Gelling's try and two goals from Matty Smith gave the Warriors an eight point lead early on, but Ryan Hall's response for Leeds was cancelled out by Blake Green, who took the score to 12-4 at half time. Carl Ablett and a second score from Hall closed the gap with 15 minutes to play but the Cherry and White's took the spoils.

2015

Both Leeds and Wigan came into the 2015 Magic Weekend battling it out at the top of the table.

In yet another Wigan win, Adam Cutbertson and Joel Moon scored the tries for Leeds, but the Rhinos couldn't stop a Warriors side led by Matty Bowen.

2016

Wigan dominated the 2016 Magic Weekend meeting against Leeds in a 40-8 result.

Kallum Watkins' early try gave the Leeds fans something to cheer about in a game that was all Wigan, plus Mitch Achurch also got over the try line.

2017

2017's Magic Weekend pit the Rhinos against Castleford Tigers for the first time, but it was the Tigers that left Newcastle with the points.

Kallum Watkins kept up his scoring record at Magic with yet another try, whilst Liam Sutcliffe and Joel Moon also scored for the Rhinos in a 29-18 score line.

2018

A difficult display against the Tigers in 2018 saw Leeds' losing run at Magic continue.

Brett Ferres and a wonderful solo effort from Mikolaj Oledzki proved only consolations in a 38-10 defeat at St James' Park.

2019

Magic Weekend was on the move again in 2019 as Liverpool's iconic Anfield hosted the festival of Rugby League.

That year, Leeds and London Broncos were both fighting the possibility of relegation but it was the Rhinos that prevailed by two points. Led by young Rhinos Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Liam Sutcliffe and Jack Walker, the five players recorded tries against Danny Ward's side, along with Richie Myler, in one of the pivotal games of the season.

2021

Covid forced the 2020 Magic Weekend to be cancelled but the event roared back to life in 2021 when Leeds and Hull FC met in the final game of the Saturday fixtures.

Wearing shirts inspired by club legend Rob Burrow, who had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) the year before, the Rhinos did the Leeds great proud in a thrilling golden point clash with the black and whites. Hull had marched into a 24-14 lead but Kruise Leeming and Jack Broadbent recorded tries to get the Rhinos back in the game with ten minutes remaining. All square after 80 minutes, both sides had their chances to win the game in golden point before Leeming provided the crucial drop goal to win the match 25-24.

2022

Last year's contest between Leeds and Castleford certainly brought plenty of points for both sides to cheer about and an all-important win that could impact the end of season play-offs.

A brilliant second-half outing from Rohan Smith's side saw them score 24 consecutive points, thanks to tries from Ash Handley, Aidan Sezer, Richie Myler, Liam Sutcliffe and James Bentley to extend a 34-10 lead, before Greg Eden and Bureta Faramio scored consolations for the Tigers.

Don't miss Magic Weekend 2023

Tickets and travel are still available to buy from the Rhinos ahead of this year's Magic Weekend.

Tickets for the Saturday and whole weekend can be bought at tickets.therhinos.co.uk or over the phone on 0371 423 1315. Travel is currently only available to buy for the Saturday and is priced at £30 per person.

For more information, click here.