Right, I've just got in, back from Cardiff. I watched Scorpions vs Warrington Senior Academy at the Arms Park on Friday night, then watched all the games over the two days, though I confess to missing the odd 20 minutes here and there, and watching the first half of Crusaders in the Walkabout eating the contents of a small farmyard.

This is the first time I've been to Magic - we run a nines comp on May Bank Holiday so I've never been free to go, and besides Edinburgh is 500 miles away so the last two years were right out of the question.

This has been one of the best RL experiences I've ever had. The games were, largely, excellent. The mix of crowds in the ground was also really good... to have 5000-odd fans of Saints, Wire and Pies all at the same end yesterday was ace, the Saints fans scored a real coup of starting up a 'stand up if you hate Wigan' chant, so getting the Wire fans all lined up with them before the last game on Sat. Today it was Leeds and HKR in huge numbers in the same places, with largish groups of Bratfut and Hull FC in between, cross-singing songs over each other's games. Absolutely fantastic inside the ground, plenty of space, busy but not rammed, lots of atmosphere but no rain (roof on LSV??!).

Outside, though, was better than Wembley. Cardiff is a cracking city, the stadium is in the middle of it, and it was taken over by RL with a warm welcome from the locals. Surprisingly large numbers of Crusaders fans. Probably more Cats fans than Quins fans. And, like Wembley, a bunch of fans from every club, all in gear, some in daft fancy dress, all getting on with getting along and having a cracking time.

I've also seen a huge bunch of RL mates, from ex-schoolmates from Warry, Leeds fans from Plymouth, Coaches from South Wales, volunteers from Swindon, uni lads from Bath, ex league players I coached at Exeter Uni from London Law Firms, to saying hello to Billy Boston, Mark Forster, Mike Nicholas and Eorl Crabtree out in town last night.

No, Leyth weren't there, and I'm sad/envious of the likes of HKR, who we were beating in cup finals not so long ago, and no, aside from wanting the pies to lose I don't really care about the results. No, it shouldn't be on the same weekend as a Wales RU international (although that might have added more outside, removing 20,000 locals from the city to make it more RL on tour, without actually costing us many ticket sales).

Yes, we should be making more of the development opportunities, from my perspective I'd want to be bringing more of the kids and teenagers from Wales and West to see our sport live and up close for the first time, because I genuinely believe ours is the best game in the world and if only people watch something like this once, they'll be hooked. 30,000 on each day probably represents around 50,000 different people, and at any time on each day 10,000 of them might be out and about, so 1/4 full for each game vs the third largest event for ticket sales in UKRL gives you a half-empty/half-full glass.

So, it's not perfect.

But it was an absolutely fantastic experience. It is a unique RL concept. It is a showcase that buzzed in and outside the ground with excitement and enjoyment from start to finish. Never been before, but I will go to every Magic weekend they stage in Cardiff, from now on until eternity. It really, really was that good.

If you've been before and didn't enjoy it, fine. Your choice.

Otherwise, stop moaning, you don't know what you're on about.

I think the four pounds must have been in cash mate.

Thought it was stones not pounds Matt.

they won't have 'Rhino' back, Powell maybe, and Kear a good bet.

I think Karl would be a mistake as I think his old backroom staff are still there. Well Alan Hunte is and that could be one of the problems.

I cant see KH being interested in the salford job again.They should not of got rid of him in the first place.
Plus,iirc being part time coach at batley suits him with his business interests.