From Brown’s exit to Stobart trucks, it was weekend of shocks

Was it that we finally found ourselves in a stadium with a tangible atmosphere and not just wincing at echoes in the usual passionless, cavernous depths of some rugby union stronghold?

Or was it the announcement filtering around a sun-kissed Etihad on Saturday lunchtime that Kevin Brown – captain of those title-chasing Huddersfield Giants – had bewilderingly signed a four-year contract with Super League’s bottom-placed club?

Maybe even it was the sight en masse of all those Stobart trucks. They do exist after all and were there for all to see although the cynic in me still feels they were just spruced up for the weekend and will now be heading to Falkirk or Caerphilly draped in something entirely different.

Then there was the rewarding sight of so many fans insitu for the traditional graveyard shift; the 12 noon Sunday kick-off between Catalan and London would ordinarily be met by masses of empty seats but yesterday supporters had already flocked in to see some action and were not disappointed.

Perhaps, though, the grandest sledgehammer of them all was that this actually seemed to work.

For the first time in its six-year history, a Magic Weekend did not leave that ever-so nagging sense of fraudulence.

Don’t get me wrong, all its predecessors have had their merits, and no little high points to recollect, whether it be in Cardiff or Edinburgh.

But it always seemed a little too forced and manufactured.

It could be said dumping 14 clubs in Manchester City’s sparkling stadium to play seven games over two days is far from organic too but, if the sport is going to insist on the venture, this, at least, seems a more beneficial method.

The debrief will begin today to assess just how successful it really was and gauge Manchester City and Manchester Council’s opinions and feedback.

But a record-breaking attendance of 63,716 is surely likely to see the venture renewed again in 2013.

Yesterday saw 32,953 – also the highest individual crowd yet – which followed on from Saturday’s 30,763. Unlike Murrayfield, which holds 67,500, the Etihad provided a better atmosphere. The stadium holds 48,000, but with the top tiers closed it offered a 34,000 capacity which suited the occasion.

As one of its innovators, Super League chief executive Nigel Wood was always going to be suitably impressed, but his words did ring true.

“I think Magic Weekend 2012 encapsulated all that is great about rugby league: superb athletes delivering skilful and exciting entertainment to enthusiastic crowds in a terrific stadium,” he said. “We witnessed some wonderful action out on the pitch and the players deserve rich praise for the high standard of play in the glorious sunshine.

“Manchester and Magic Weekend made for a very successful combination and clearly we will be exploring the opportunity to build on what we experienced over the last couple of days.”

The sweltering weather clearly aided the event and players had to work doubly hard off the pitch as well as on it. Before their respective games, each squad would tend to watch the match beforehand from the seats in front of the press area and this was open season for fans who could go up and talk to their heroes, pose for pictures and gain autographs.

It may have made life a misery for one particular jobsworth steward but the sight of Wigan superstar Sam Tomkins having his photo taken with countless Leeds, Huddersfield, Bradford and even Saints fans does sum up plenty about the sport.

There were a few mindless idiots who tried ruining it with their loutish behaviour – no, not that flurry of red cards in Wigan v Saints last night – in the stands during the Hull derby. But that is always going to be the case if that fixture is played last of all, on either day, when alcohol is involved and it should not detract from the whole occasion. For me, Hull KR fans behind the posts joyously singing an endless repeat of The Great Escape theme tune is an abiding memory.

And always-entertaining Wigan coach Shaun Wane, that tough-as-teak old-fashioned prop who looked like he was overcome with emotion in the press conference following their win against Saints.

In fact, some water had just gone down the wrong way but – after admitting he had been dreaming of a 3-0 success over their fierce rivals – he choked “I’ve just sung the song – it killed me.”

One final word....Man City might not have as much success next season – all seven clubs who changed in the home dressing room this weekend managed to lose.

Perhaps that will extend in to 2013 too.