Wire and Wigan's Magic Weekend history including an all-time classic

Yahoo

30-04-2025

OLD Magic Weekend rivalries are renewed on Sunday as Warrington Wolves face off against neighbours Wigan Warriors.
The Cherry and Whites are The Wire's most frequent opponents at rugby league's annual carnival, with this weekend's meeting being their fifth at Magic over the years.
The previous four all came in consecutive Magic Weekends, with the last two of those going Warrington's way.
And within all four, there have been all-time classics that have gone down to the wire, incredible tries scored and memorable celebrations.
Here's a look back at all four Magic meetings between Wigan and Warrington...
WIGAN 6 WIRE 10
September 5, 2021 – St James' Park, Newcastle
After a year off due to the Covid pandemic, Magic Weekend returned with a bang in 2021 in a year that saw two of the six games go to golden-point extra time.
Given the drama of what went around it, this game stuck out for the wrong reasons in terms of entertainment value – not that Wire would have cared.
A game featuring only three tries, all of which came in the first half with the opener coming inside the opening minute as Josh Thewlis dived over in the corner.
Then came one of Warrington's most memorable 'Magic moments' of recent years.
At the time, George Williams was still getting his feet under the table at The Halliwell Jones Stadium following his mid-season move from the NRL, so scoring a try against his former side was always going to endear him to his new fans.
However, it was celebrating the way he did – cupping his ear to the Wigan faithful – that really made a mark.
Ethan Havard touched down for the Warriors to cut the gap, but Warrington's defence toughed out a second half in which they saw little of the ball to ensure they left Tyneside with the points.
George Williams' memorable celebration after scoring against former club Wigan at Magic Weekend 2021 (Image: Ed Sykes/SWpix.com)
WIGAN 14 WIRE 26
May 25, 2019 – Anfield, Liverpool
This was the second meeting between the two in the space of a fortnight and just like the Challenge Cup game that preceded it, this one went the way of Steve Price's Wire side.
And as the two neighbours took their age-old rivalry to Anfield, it was two moments of individual excellent that broke the game open.
The sides had swapped a try and a penalty each, with all of Warrington's points coming courtesy of Dec Patton, before two tries for the ages within six minutes of each other swung the game decisively their way.
First, Blake Austin punched through the heart of the Wigan defence to touch down before Toby King raced the length of the field after a George Williams kick had bounced off his head and into Josh Charnley's hands, with the winger sending his centre off on an unchallenged run towards the jubilant Wire supporters.
Wolves then sat behind their jab courtesy of Patton's boot, meaning they were far enough clear by the time Willie Isa scored a late consolation for Wigan.
Blake Austin celebrates after scoring a stunning individual try at Anfield in 2019 (Image: MIKE BODEN)
WIGAN 38 WIRE 10
May 19, 2018 – St James' Park, Newcastle
Warrington could not have wished to be in better form heading to a ground that had not been kind to them.
With 10 consecutive wins under their belt, one more would have earned them a Super League era club record as well as earning them a first victory at St James' Park at the fourth attempt.
However, they were brought back to earth with a bump as Wigan charged away during the second half to record an ultimately dominant victory.
The scoreline had been tight at half time, with Wire 16-10 behind but still very much in the game after Harvey Livett and Bryson Goodwin had touched down to respond to Wigan tries from Sam Powell and Sam Tomkins, who also kicked two penalties.
Unfortunately, though, that was as good as it got for them as the Warriors cantered away through tries from John Bateman, George Williams, Liam Marshall and Tom Davies.
A dejected-looking Tyrone Roberts following the heavy defeat at Magic Weekend 2018 (Image: MIKE BODEN)
WIGAN 24 WIRE 24
May 20, 2017 – St James' Park, Newcastle
An all-time Magic Weekend classic that went right down to the wire as Warrington had what would have been a priceless victory snatched away from them.
Five wins from their past six Super League games had kickstarted Tony Smith's side's recovery from a nightmare start to the campaign, but they looked like slipping to defeat on Tyneside as Liam Marshall crossed for a hat-trick of tries for Wigan, with Daryl Clark providing Wire's only response.
At 18-6 down, things looked bleak but Wolves stormed back – Stefan Ratchford and Tom Lineham both scored to narrow the gap to two points before the sides swapped penalty goals.
But when Jack Hughes plunged over the line to give them the lead for the first time with six minutes left, a first victory in Newcastle looked to be in the offing.
However, that was stolen away with effectively the game's final play as Joe Burgess climbed high to collect a steepling Sean O'Loughlin kick to touch down and level the scores and give Wigan a kick from the touchline to snatch victory.
George Williams could not land the conversion, so the rivals left Newcastle with a point apiece.
Stefan Ratchford holds off Wigan's Lewis Tierney on his way to scoring at Magic Weekend 2017 (Image: MIKE BODEN)