Hall keen to evoke memories of Magic debut day

For Leeds Rhinos will swap a derby bash with Bradford Bulls this weekend for a mouthwatering match against Wigan Warriors.

It is the final game to climax two days of Super League action in Manchester, with St Helens now playing Warrington, while the Bulls face Huddersfield Giants.

And for England winger Hall the seventh annual two-day event will evoke memories of his Super League debut against Bulls during the 2007 Magic Weekend.

“Magic 2007 was a massive day for me and I remember thinking that there was the potential for me to be like a rabbit in the headlights,” said Hall.

“Eight months earlier I had been playing for Oulton Raiders and now I was on the bench for Leeds Rhinos at one of the most iconic stadiums in world rugby playing against our biggest rivals.

“There was a massive potential for me to be engulfed by the whole occasion but I had to keep believing in myself. I got 20 minutes at the end and was up against Lesley Vainikolo, someone I had only ever seen on TV before.

“My first real involvement was him having a try disallowed by the video ref, I’m still not sure what for to this day, in the first five minutes after coming on.

“Then obviously there was the famous try from Jordan Tansey. I think we can safely say now that he was offside but I was behind him and onside and I’m pretty sure that if I hadn’t seen him in front of me, I would have put my foot down and got there anyway!”

Hall’s debut came during the first ever Magic Weekend and has played in all six events so far.

“I love the Magic Weekend as a concept,” said Hall. “We have got a great record since it came in so obviously there are some special memories.

“I am looking forward to going back to Etihad this year after last year’s event and it will be a tough clash against Wigan.”

Wigan coach Shaun Wane is relishing the chance to play Leeds in the Magic Weekend after admitting he was “sick of playing Saints”.

St Helens have played their arch rivals in five of the previous six Magic Weekends but will this time bring down the curtain on Saturday with a derby against Warrington. Leeds then play Wigan on Sunday evening.

“To be honest, I got sick of playing Saints,” said Wane. “As much as I love it, it’s a nice change to be playing a good Leeds team who will be hurting after two losses.”

While Wane’s men have won their last 10 matches to reach the last eight of the Challenge Cup and open up a three-point lead in Super League, the Rhinos are reeling from back-to-back defeats which scuppered their double hopes.

They lost to Huddersfield in the Cup and let slip a 16-0 lead against St Helens on Monday to go down to their first League defeat for two months but they are still the last team to defeat Wigan.

“I’m expecting a real tough game,” Wane said. “I’m not under any illusions. They weren’t far off in either game.”

With more than 65,000 tickets already sold, this year’s event is guaranteed to top the aggregate crowd of 63,716 for the Etihad Stadium’s Magic Weekend debut in 2012.

Tim Smith accepts it is getting close to make or break time for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats’ top-eight hopes.

Last Sunday’s 44-18 defeat at rivals Hull KR left them in 10th spot ahead of their showdown with Castleford Tigers.

And with Wildcats having won only four times in 14 Super League fixtures so far this term, Smith says they need to start picking up points quickly.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t get two points on Sunday, they were too good on the day, but we’ve got to bounce back this week against Castleford,” Smith said.

“It’s going to be a big one. It is a local derby and we’ll have to go there and play our best, because they’ve got some quality players all over the park.

“We are confident we can turn it around. It’s just a matter of going out there and doing it.”

Hunslet Hawks coach Barry Eaton has lost three players through injury ahead of tonight’s televised Kingstone Press Championship fixture with Batley Bulldogs, but is boosted by the return of five key men.

Danny Grimshaw (ankle), David Clayton (shoulder) and Tom Bush (concussion) are all ruled out but Jimmy Keinhorst, Richard Moore, Thomas Coyle, Luke Helliwell and Liam Welham return.

Batley are missing suspended duo George Flanagan and Ash Lindsay.

Natalie Gilmour, sister of former Great Britain centre Lee Gilmour, has been named in a 24-strong England squad for the Women’s Rugby League World Cup, which takes place in July.

Gilmour is one of six players from Featherstone as England will face stiff competition from Australia, France and three-time winners New Zealand.

The final will be held at Headingley Carnegie on Sunday, July 14.

England squad: Lindsay Anfield (Normanton), Dani Bound (Thatto Heath), Katie Cooper-Birkenhead (Featherstone), Jodie Cunningham (Thatto Heath), Andrea Dobson, Kim Field (both Featherstone), Lois Forsell (Bradford), Holly Freestone (Thatto Heath), Natalie Gilmour (Featherstone), Claire Hall (Thatto Heath), Amy Hardcastle (Bradford), Lori Holloran (Normanton), Clare McGinnis (Thatto Heath), Kirsty Moroney (Bradford), Holly Myers (Coventry/Southampton), Emily Rudge (Thatto Heath), Emma Slowe (Featherstone), Lauren Stallwood (Bradford), Tara Stanley (Crossfields), Beth Sutcliffe (Thatto Heath), Danielle Titterington (Featherstone), Rachel Twibill (Bradford), Gemma Walsh, Jenny Welsby (both Thatto Heath).