Try GOLD - Free

Wigan weave Magic in Newcastle with fans left spellbound

The Guardian

|

May 05, 2025

Biggest win after fine run of matches is word that game will be back for more next year

- Aaron Bower

Wigan weave Magic in Newcastle with fans left spellbound

Wherever it sits in the calendar, Magic Weekend always has the feeling of a seismic weekend in the shaping of every side's prospects.

Last year it was much more decisive given how it was played in mid-August, just weeks before the playoff began; but even here, on the May bank holiday weekend, Magic's return to Newcastle felt hugely significant.

That was in part because it provided the sport with a welcome tonic from the endless boardroom politics, with the public also voting with their feet on how Newcastle should remain the permanent home of Magic into 2026 and beyond, with a crowd of 64,156, the biggest since 2018, in attendance; and the highest ever Sunday figure too.

But there were plenty of storylines on the field too, as the regular season hurtles towards the midway point in 2025. There is now a clear trio at the summit, with the reigning Super League champions solidifying their place in that leading pack with a hard-fought win over Warrington.

MORE STORIES FROM The Guardian

The Guardian

A bloody nose for the president but Democrats must be careful not to misinterpret the results

The US gave Donald Trump a bloody nose.

time to read

3 mins

November 06, 2025

The Guardian

Man gropes Mexican president during walkabout

Claudia Sheinbaum, the president of Mexico, has been groped by a man while mingling with citizens in Mexico City, raising questions about security and the sexual harassment faced by the country's women.

time to read

1 mins

November 06, 2025

The Guardian

Ed Sheeran backs music reforms for state schools

Ed Sheeran has taken partial credit for an overhaul of musiceducation in England's state schools, shortly after being namechecked by the education secretary in parliament.

time to read

1 min

November 06, 2025

The Guardian

Reputation nosedives as bird of the year enters nesting season

New Zealanders are being warned to steer clear of the nation's “bird of the year” - the karearea - after reports they are dive-bombing walkers who get too close to their nests.

time to read

1 mins

November 06, 2025

The Guardian

McIlroy thanks PGA chief for Ryder Cup abuse apology

Rory McIlroy says the PGA of America chief executive, Derek Sprague, apologised personally for the abuse directed at the world No 2 and his wife during Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph at Bethpage Black, and that the gesture helped to close the book on what had been a bruising week.

time to read

1 mins

November 06, 2025

The Guardian

Three in 10 adults experienced abuse in childhood, study finds

Nearly a third of women in England and Wales were abused as a child, along with just over a quarter of men, according to new figures that for the first time include emotional, physical or sexual abuse as well as neglect.

time to read

2 mins

November 06, 2025

The Guardian

The Guardian

Father of Southport killer is 'desperately sorry' for not dealing with son's behaviour

The father of Axel Rudakubana has told the inquiry into the 2024 Southport attack that his failure to deal with his son's violent behaviour had \"catastrophic consequences, for which I am desperately sorry\".

time to read

3 mins

November 06, 2025

The Guardian

BBC is 'a Titanic' and must embrace radical shift, says Sidemen manager

The BBC risks becoming the Titanic of the media world and culturally irrelevant to gen Z unless it embraces a “radical shift” towards reaching young audiences, the manager of one of the most successful YouTube collectives has warned.

time to read

2 mins

November 06, 2025

The Guardian

The Guardian

Fiji carry national pride into redemption match

England's opponents on Saturday are rising in the world rankings and out to avenge defeat at World Cup

time to read

2 mins

November 06, 2025

The Guardian

Louvre heist suspect 'is minor social media star'

One of the men arrested on suspicion of stealing £77m of crown jewels from the Louvre is a minor social media star with a passion for motorbikes who has worked as a security guard at the Pompidou Centre, French media have reported.

time to read

1 mins

November 06, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size