In its short history, NRL Magic Round has already offered up some of the most magical moments in the league’s history.
There are bound to be some plays, tries, and games that will live on fan’s memories as players turn it on with over 100,000 fans coming in attendance over the weekend.
It’s the festival of footy, the greatest weekend of the year for any NRL fan, and there’s no doubt that the players want to deliver.
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Ahead of this weekend’s round of footy at Suncorp Stadium, we’ve gone and selected our top five moments from the three years of Magic Round so far.
5. The Warriors show incredible fight but just fall short (2022)
This was absolutely heartbreaking for Warriors fans.
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The game between South Sydney and the New Zealand side looked like it was heading into a blowout as we headed into halftime.
The Souths had put six tries on the Kiwi side before halftime with the Warriors scoring one just before the break to put the score at 26-6 after 40 minutes.
A try for Lachlan Ilias after the break made it seem like the result was a forgone conclusion.
But the last 20 minutes of the game turned everything around, in what was one of the best fightbacks from any team in Magic Round’s history.
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Four tries with two of them coming in the last five minutes for the Warriors set up a tantilising end of the game.
The New Zealand side had shown incredible heart and weren’tt ready to lay down for the Rabbitohs as they scored four incredible tries.
But it was too late and wasn’t meant to be as Rabbitohs held on to secure the win.
The New Zealand performance in the second half made it the best game of Magic Round that year and worthy to kick off our list.
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4. Tommy Turbo runs riot over the home boys (2021)
It was a night to forget for the Brisbane Broncos in front of their home fans.
But it was certainly one to remember for Tommy Turbo’s Manly.
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It would’ve been a hostile environment at Suncorp Stadium for the Sea Eagles, with thousands of Brisbane fans in attendance wanting to prove exactly why the Magic Round atmosphere was unlike any other.
Unfortunately, the players on the pitch couldn’t repay that faith as Manly ran out a 50-6 winners in what was a flogging for all intents and purposes.
Tom Trbojevic proved to be the star of the show with two tries, two try assists, and 175 running metres and generally ran the show in a dominating performance.
3. Nathan Cleary proves he’s a magician with a hat trick (2021)
Often the man pulling the strings for the Panthers, Nathan Cleary put on a show worthy of the ‘Magic’ name.
It was up against the Gold Coast Titans on the final game of the 2021 edition of Magic Round.
Fans had seen seven rounds of footy, but Cleary ensured that the best was saved until last, proving that all eight games of the round are must-see.
He was at the peak of his powers in his performance to lead the unbeaten at the time Penrith side to their 10th victory of the year.
He recovered three tries, two try assists, three line breaks, and converted all eight goals for a mammoth 28-point haul.
The star halfback showed sheer strength and footwork as he pushed aside four Titans players to complete his hat trick.
A magician indeed.
2. Broncos put on a show for the home crowd (2022)
After being embarrassed the year before, the Broncos came out in front of their home crowd with a point to prove.
The atmosphere was electric, and the game kicked off in the best way possible as Broncos secured a dropout after the ball went dead from kick-off, resulting in a try mere minutes later.
Adam Reynolds absolutely dismantled the Sea Eagles in a complete performance to wash away the tears from the previous year's loss.
Manly weren’t in it at all in the 38-0 loss that saw players such as Selwyn Cobbo and Corey Oates dominate down the wings.
But the Brisbane faithful couldn’t care less about the sorrows of the team from North Sydney as their boys were putting on a show.
It was an excellent way to kick off the 2022 edition of Magic Round.
Expect Manly to want to put things straight this weekend.
1.Murray Taulagi’s magic try assist called the best in history (2022)
This was worth the price of admission for the entire weekend last year, alone.
Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi produced what could arguably called one of the greatest try assists in NRL history, certainly in Magic Round history.
He had captured the ball right in the corner and was heading out as Jackson Hastings had come across with a last-ditch try saving tackle.
It was a great piece of play from Hastings who had looked to have prevented the try, at least that’s what everyone thought.
Everyone except Taulagi.
The Cowboys star was pretty much a full-length out of the pitch, but had managed to keep his body in the air as he was being rushed back by the Tigers defence.
In a moment of brilliance, just as he was about to hit the ground, he managed to flick the ball back into the field to Scott Drinkwater who put the ball down for a try.
Andrew Voss said on commentary at the time: “We have waited until game eight to witness the best trick of Magic Round.”
Pure magic.
Featured Image Credit: NRL/Supplied.Topics: NRL, Rugby League, Australia
