Wigan Warriors and St Helens Hit Hard as Magic Weekend Ends

Wigan Warriors and St Helens Hit Hard as Magic Weekend Ends

With the Magic

Weekend now concluded, the Super League season is entering its final five weeks, and injury woes are intensifying. These injuries could significantly impact which teams advance to the playoffs, with recent results shaking up the top six standings.

The latest fixtures have seen a dramatic shake-up in the playoff race. Notably, the teams currently occupying fourth, fifth, and sixth positions all suffered losses, opening the door for other contenders. Leeds Rhinos, for instance, failed to capitalize on the opportunity as they fell to the Warrington Wolves, who defeated them 24-6 in the closing match of day one. This result maintains the pressure on Wigan Warriors and Hull KR, who are vying for playoff positions.

Day one of the Magic Weekend also featured London Broncos achieving a notable victory with a 29-4 win over Hull FC. This result raised further questions about the ongoing concerns surrounding IMG’s decisions and London’s likely relegation, regardless of their final standings. Hull FC’s woes were compounded by two new injuries and additional suspensions, leaving their squad in even more disarray. Meanwhile, Wigan Warriors secured a 20-0 victory over St Helens, although both teams were hit by injuries to key forwards during the match.

On day two, Leigh Leopards put pressure on the top six with a decisive 26-0 win over Salford, closing in on a playoff spot. Hull KR reclaimed the top spot in the Super League with a 36-4 thrashing of a struggling Catalans side. The weekend concluded with Huddersfield reinforcing their hold on ninth place with a 20-12 victory over Castleford Tigers.

Injury news from Magic Weekend highlights several critical issues. Hull FC’s Jack Walker appears to have torn his bicep, ending his season, while Carlos Tuimavave is sidelined with a trapped nerve. London’s Jared Bassett also left the field early due to a quad injury. The most significant pre-game injury news involved Wigan Warriors’ skipper Liam Farrell, who was forced to withdraw from the match due to a calf injury. Farrell’s absence could be substantial depending on the severity of the injury. St Helens also faced setbacks as Curtis Sironen suffered a calf injury and had to leave the field with his leg heavily bandaged.

Further injury concerns include Matt Dufty of Warrington Wolves, who scored a hat-trick despite battling through an injury and may miss the upcoming game against Castleford Tigers. Sam Stone and Oliver Gildart are also sidelined after failing head injury assessments against Leigh and Catalans, respectively. Catalans faced additional difficulties as Matt Ikuvalu suffered a season-ending pec tear, Jed Wallace sustained a knee injury, and Franck Maria incurred a shoulder injury, leaving them in a challenging position ahead of their match against Leeds Rhinos on Friday.

As the season progresses, these injury issues will be crucial in determining which teams secure playoff spots and how the final standings unfold.