Round 18 saw the return of Magic Weekend to the summer and the first fans could fully attend since 2019 in Newcastle.
A superb second half comeback from Toulouse Olympique saw them stun Wakefield Trinity with a 36-28 win in the opening game of the weekend at St James' Park. Trinity raced into a 12-0 lead with tries from Liam Hood and Matt Ashurst with Max Jowitt converting twice. Toulouse cut the gap with a Joe Bretherton try for 12-4 but a Jowitt penalty goal and David Fifita try which Jowitt improved saw Trin open up a 20-4 lead into the interval.
Toulouse completed the turnaround within eight minutes of the restart as Lambert Belmas, Matty Russell and Nathan Peats all crossed for tries which Hankinson converted for 22-20. The charge continued with Latrell Schmaukel (Hankinson conv) touching down ahead of a second score from Russell for a 32-20 lead. The spree was finally halted with two minutes to go as Kelepi Tanginoa crossed for Wakefield with Jowitt converting, the gap was a single score at 32-26 and only grew in the final seconds as Guy Armitage sealed the win with a try which Hankinson improved for a 38-26 final score.
Saints Stun Warriors
St Helens staged a late fightback to secure a 20-18 derby victory over Wigan Warriors in the second game of the weekend. Saints struck first with a penalty goal from Jon Bennison for 2-0 inside six minutes before Wigan hit back on the half-hour mark with a Bevan French try which Harry Smith converted for a 6-2 lead into the interval.
Wigan extended the lead to 12-2 within three minutes of the restart with John Bateman (Smith conv) crossing but Saints fought back with tries from Joe Batchelor and Jack Welsby for 12-10 before a Bennison penalty levelled at 12-12 on 66 minutes. Wigan regained the lead with French's second score of the afternoon with Smith kicking for 18-12. However, the joy turned to sorrow in the final minutes with Regan Grace and Jonny Lomax touching down for St Helens to seal the 20-18 success.
Leeds Rhinos secured Derby delight with a 34-20 success over Castleford Tigers. The Rhinos struck first with Matt Prior crossing for a try which Rhyse Martin converted for 6-0 before Jake Mamo responded for the Tigers with Danny Richardson levelling with the boot at 6-6. The Tigers opened up a narrow lead into the interval as Bureta Faraimo crossed for 10-6.
Leeds hit back superbly to lead 22-10 on the hour after scores from Ash Handley and Aidan Sezer were improved by Martin followed by a Richie Myler try. The spree continued with James Bentley and Liam Sutcliffe touching down and Martin kicking for a huge 34-10 lead. Cas had the final marks on the scoreline as Faraimo complete his hat-trick with Richardson converting the latter in the 34-20 loss.
Giants Defeat Devils
Huddersfield Giants survived a second-half fightback to secure a 30-18 win over Salford Red Devils in the opening game of Day 2. The hosts raced into an 18-0 lead with tries from Toby King, Owen Trout and Chris McQueen all being converted by Oliver Russell. Salford got off the mark with a Deon Cross try which Marc Sneyd converted but a Jermaine McGillvary score saw Russell convert for 24-6 into the interval.
Salford struck twice after the restart to cut the gap to 24-18 with Brodie Croft and Sam Luckley (Sneyd convs) but the joy of the afternoon went to the Giants as McGillvary sealed his brace and Russell converted for a 30-18 final score.
Warrington Wolves left Magic in high spirits after a comfortable 36-10 defeat of Catalans Dragons. The Wolves made he perfect start with Gareth Widdop crossing inside two minutes for 4-0 but they were pegged back by a Samisoni Langi try which Sam Tomkins converted for 6-4 after just eight minutes. Warrington regained the lead with Jake Wardle touching down and Stefan Ratchford converting before adding a penalty goal for 12-6. The advantage into the interval was 24-6 after Matty Nicholson went in for a try which Ratchford improved and in the final seconds of the half, he swept over a penalty goal.
The Wolves resumed control after the restart with Josh Thewlis going in on45minutes with Ratchford kicking for30-6. Catalans reduced the deficit to 30-10 thanks to a Tomkins try but the win for the Wolves was wrapped up by George Williams' try with Ratchford sixth success with the boot making it a 36-10 final score.
FC Claim Hull Derby Success Over Robins
Hull FC sealed the bragging rights with a 34-28 derby win over city rivals Hull Kingston Rovers in the final game of the weekend. FC opened up an early lead at 2-0 after Luke Gale converted a penalty goal but were pegged back as Matt Parcell crossed for Rovers to make it 4-2. FC regained the lead with tries from Conner Wynne and Joe Lovodua which Gale converted for 14-4 but the sides went into the interval level at 14-14 as Sam Wood and Mikey Lewis both crossed for tries with Lachlan Coote converting the former.
FC began the second half perfectly as Ellis Longstaff crossed twice withing five minutes of the restart with Gale improving both efforts for a 26-14 advantage that was cut to us two points on the hour after Jimmy Keinhorst crossed and Lewis claimed a second try. Lewis wrapped up his hat-trick to push KR into a 28-26 lead but the joy was soured by Josh Simm's score which regained the lead at 32-28 for FC before Gale confirmed the 34-28 success with a late penalty goal.
Round 19 saw some sides looking to recover from Magic losses while others hoped to continue good form.
St Helens continued their great form with a comfortable 25-0 win over Huddersfield Giants at the Totally Wicked Stadium. A close first half saw just one score with Joe Batchelor crossing for a try which Jonny Lomax converted for a 6-0 advantage into the interval. Saints extended the lead with an Agnatius Passi try which Lomax improved before adding a penalty goal a few minutes later for 14-0. Jack Welsby crossed to make the advantage 18-0 before a self-converted try from Lomax and Welsby drop goal late on confirmed the 25-0 rout.
Warriors Hammer Hull FC
Wigan Warriors eased to a huge 60-0 humbling of Hull FC at the DW Stadium. An opening brace from Bevan French saw Harry Smith convert twice for 12-0 before Jai Field crossed for 18-0 inside the half hour mark. French completed a 19-minute hat-trick before crossing for a fourth on 38 minutes with Smith again converting twice for a comfortable 28-0 lead into the interval.
French wasted no time on crossing for his fifth try of the evening within three minutes of the restart before Field sealed his brace with Smith kicking for 40-0 on 48 minutes. French crossed twice more before the hour for a magnificent seven- setting a new Super League record in the process (Smith conv) for a 50-0 lead. The gloss on a stunning victory came from a Liam Marshall try which Smith improved before crossing late on for a try of his own for the 60-0 final score.
Castleford Tigers returned to winning ways with a 35-22 win over Warrington Wolves at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle. An early brace from Derrell Olpherts and conversions from Danny Richardson saw the Tigers open up a 12-0 lead. Richardson crossed for a try of his own on 17 minutes and converted before adding a 34th minute drop goal for 19-0. A dominant first half ended with Niall Evalds crossing for a try to send the sides into the interval at 23-0.
Cas resumed their control within eight minutes of the restart as Jason Qareqare touched down for 27-0. The Wolves mounted a comeback with Ben Currie, Matty Ashton and Daryl Clark all crossing for tries, Stefan Ratchford converted twice to close the gap to 27-16. Cas halted the spree with Alex Sutcliffe's try which Richardson improved for 33-16. Ex-Tiger Oliver Holmes (Ratchford conv) crossed for the Wolves to make it 33-22 but the hosts wrapped up a 35-22 win with a late penalty goal from Richardson.
Toulouse Stun Rhinos
Toulouse Olympique boosted their survival hopes with a comfortable 20-6 win over Leeds Rhinos at the Stade Ernest Wallon. The hosts edged ahead with a Chris Hankinson penalty goal before opening up an 8-0 lead as Latrell Schmaukel touched down for a try which Hankinson improved. The advantage was 14-0 into the interval after Hankinson improved a try from Matty Russell on the half hour mark.
Leeds finally got off the mark on 69 minutes with a Brad Dwyer try which Rhyse Martin improved for 14-6 but it was to be their only joy as Joe Bretherton crossed late on with Hankinson kicking for the 20-6 victory.
Hull Kingston Rovers sealed a narrow 15-10 success over Wakefield Trinity at Sewell Group Craven Park on Sunday afternoon. The visitors struck first with Max Jowitt crossing for 4-0 and it proved to be the solitary score of the first half as it remained 4-0 into the interval
The Robins levelled within a minute of the restart as Jimmy Keinhorst touched down for 4-4 before Ethan Ryan crossed for 8-4. KR extended the lead with a self-converted score from Lachlan Coote and Will Dagger drop goal for 15-4. Trinity cut the gap to 15-10 with a Lewis Murphy try which Mason Lino converted to set-up a tense finish but KR held on for the win.
Devils Delight in Dragons Defeat
Salford Red Devils eased to a 32-6 win over Catalans Dragons at the AJ Bell Stadium to complete the round. The Dragons struck first through Joe Chan with Sam Tomkins converting for 6-0. A Ken Sio brace and Marc Sneyd conversion and penalty goal saw Salford move into a 12-6 advantage at the interval. Salford's spree continued with Brodie Croft's try which Sneyd improved before adding a penalty for 20-6 on the hour. The win was wrapped up by a hat-trick try for Sio and Jack Ormondroyd crossing with Sneyd converting twice for the 32-6 final score.
Round 20 saw two huge wins before the round became a close battle with two scores or less as a wining margin in the other four clashes.
Leeds Rhinos stunned Wigan Warriors with a huge 42-12 success on Thursday night at Headingley. The Rhinos raced into a 12-0 lead with tries from Liam Sutcliffe and James Bentley which Rhyse Martin improved. Wigan hit back through Bevan French with Harry Smith converting for 12-6 but they went into the interval trailing 24-6 after a self-converted try from Martin who also improved Cam Smith's score which followed.
Leeds resumed control within six minutes of the restart as Harry Newman touched down and Martin converted or 30-6. Wigan cut the gap to 30-12 with a Jake Bibby score and Smith conversion. Leeds wrapped up the victory with tries from Brad Dwyer and Muizz Mustapha with Martin rounding off the night with seven successes in the 42-12 win.
Hull FC Humbled By Terrific Tigers
Castleford Tigers stormed to a 48-18 hammering of Hull FC at the MKM Stadium. The Tigers opened up an early 8-0 lead with a Danny Richardson penalty goal and conversion to Derrell Olpherts' try, FC hit back through Miteli Vulikijapani's try which Luke Gale converted before improving efforts from Darnell McInosh and Danny Houghton for an 18-8 advantage, The gap was 18-14 into the interval after Olpherts crossed for his second try which Richardson converted.
A three minute brace from Bureta Faraimo (Richardson conv) saw the Tigers regain the lead at 24-18 before taking control in a dominant second half where FC were kept scoreless while a Suaia Matagi try and a second brace from Olpherts saw him reach four scores for the evening. Richardson swept over three conversions for a haul of seven with Alex Sutcliffe crossing in the final minutes to wrap up a superb 46-18 victory.
Hull Kingston Rovers continued their good form with a 30-22 win over Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The hosts raced into a 14-0 lead with Stefan Ratchford kicking a penalty goal before improving a Jake Wardle brace. KR got off the mark with Ben Crooks and Sam Wood both crossing, Lachlan Coote and Will Dagger converted for 14-12 with the gap being 16-12 into the interval after a Ratchford penalty goal.
Warrington make it a two score gap with Thomas Mikaele touching down for a try which Ratchford improved for 22-12.The Robins staged a superb comeback which began with Matt Parcell crossing ahead of scores from Ethan Ryan and Dagger, Coote converting the lot to seal the 30-22 success.
Dragons Drop Goal Guts Giants
Catalans Dragons returned to winning ways with a narrow 13-12 victory over Huddersfield Giants at the Stade Gilbert Brutus. The sides shared the points in a tight first half which saw Chris McQueen cross for 4-0 before Arthur Romano went over for the Dragons to make it 4-4 into the interval.
Catalans went ahead within three minutes of the restart as Ben Jullien touched down and Sam Tomkins converted for 10-4 before the visitors levelled thanks to a Danny Levi try and Oliver Russell conversion at 10-10. Will Pryce gave the Giants a narrow 12-10 lead with a penalty goal but their joy was soured by Tomkins' converting a penalty goal for 12-12 before sweeping over a last-gasp drop to to complete the 13-12 win. ty
Toulouse Olympique's winning run came to an end with a 24-11 defeat to Salford Red Devils at the Stade Ernest Wallon. Toulouse made the perfect start as Mathieu Jussaume crossed for a try which Chris Hankinson converted for 6-0. Salford hit back with a Joe Burgess try and Marc Sneyd conversion for 6-6 before a Tony Gigot drop goal and Hankinson penalty goal sent Toulouse into the interval leading 9-6.
Salford went ahead with a Ken Sio score within nine minutes of the restart as 10-9 before a third Hankinson penalty made it 11-10 on 55 minutes, Salford regained the lead with a second score from Burgess (Sneyd conv) to make it 16-11 before a Sneyd penalty goal and a conversion to a second Sio score wrapped up the 24-11 success.
Last-Gasp Saints Stun Trinity
St Helens came from 12-0 down to seal a 13-12 Golden Point win against Wakefield Trinity at the Be Well Support Stadium. Wakefield opened up a 10-0 first half lead with Jorge Taufua and Jack Croft crossing for tries and Mason Lino converting a penalty in-between.
Lino extended the lead to 12-0 with a second penalty goal before St Helens finally got off the mark with a Regan Grace try and Jonny Lomax conversion to make it 12-6. The sides were level on 69 minutes as Jon Bennison crossed and Lomax kicked for 12-12 and the equality remained until the end of the 80 minutes which resulted in Golden Point extra time. Jack Welsby became the hero for the visitors in sweeping over a drop goal to complete the comeback and seal the 13-12 victory.
