Super League Magic Weekend Moves to Liverpool in 2019

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After four years at Newcastle United football club's St James' Park ground, the Super League Magic Weekend has a new host venue.

The 2019 edition of this highlight in the English rugby league calendar moves from Tyneside across the country to Merseyside, with Anfield Stadium - the home of Liverpool football club - welcoming fans.

Magic Weekend 2019 takes place on Saturday, 25 and Sunday, 26 May just prior to the UK's Spring Bank Holiday. All 12 Super League teams will be in action in front of the famous Anfield Kop.

This stadium was used to host a rugby league international Test between England and New Zealand back in November, which the home team won 20-14, courtesy of a hat-trick from St Helens back Tommy Makinson.

Who plays who on Magic Weekend 2019?

The Magic Weekend kicks off with Wakefield Trinity tackling Challenge Cup holders Catalans Dragons (2pm kick-off, 25 May). Trinity's hot prospect Tom Johnstone has started the Super League season well, crossing first when Trinity beat Catalans 22-12 earlier in the campaign and is already laying markers down to be top try scorer. Scotland half-back Danny Brough, meanwhile, has been reliable with his kicking.

A Yorkshire derby between Hull FC and struggling Huddersfield Giants follows (4:30pm kick-off).  The Humberside outfit trounced their West Yorkshire opposition 28-8 away in their first meeting of the season, with forward Joe Westerman proving a surprise source of tries. Marc Sneyd remains an influential player for Hull, kicking goals and laying on plenty of assists.

Wigan Warriors are finding life after Shaun Wane quite difficult and the reigning Super League champions are well off the pace this season. Their Magic Weekend opponents are local rivals Warrington Wolves (7pm kick-off), who avenged last season's Grand Final defeat with a recent 25-12 victory over the Cherry and Whites. 

Former Wigan player Josh Charnley came back to haunt them. While they are as big as 8/1 to win the Grand Final again this season in the rugby league betting with bet365, Warrington are fancied to go one better at 15/8.

Sunday of the Magic Weekend 2018 starts with Salford Red Devils playing Hull Kingston Rovers (1pm kick-off). Australia backs Jackson Hastings and Ken Sio can be labelled major factors in Salford's fine start to the campaign. Sio used to play for KR, scoring a try on his old stomping ground and kicking a couple of goals in a narrow 42-22 win.

Leeds Rhinos, like fellow heavyweights Wigan, have started the Super League season poorly. They face London Broncos on Magic Weekend (3:30pm kick-off) after recently succumbing to a humbling 18-16 defeat at Headingley from the southern club.

Super League favourites St Helens (5/4 to top the regular season table and 15/8 to win the Grand Final) will close out the Magic Weekend against Castleford Tigers (6pm kick-off). Both of these sides lost in last year's playoffs at the semi-final stage, but Saints lead the way this campaign and Tigers back Greg Eden has run in plenty of tries already.