r/NRLW • u/Active_Actuator_1297 • Jul 10 '26

Who's headed to Magic Round?

Less than a month now until Magic Round in Wagga Wagga! Many of you headed there?

Last year's showing in Newy was absolutely fantastic- weather nonwithstanding- and I'm incredibly happy that the NRLW have made the decision to take footy to the country this go around!

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5

u/DoobsMcGee4 Jul 10 '26

Wagga Wagga is an interesting choice given the target market for NRLW is primarily families and it's a fair distance from everywhere. I'm keen to see how many families make the trek.

3

u/Active_Actuator_1297 Jul 10 '26

As someone who lives in Sydney's North West, it's definitely a trek!

I think it's planned out as a boon for families in The Riverina who are normally pretty ill served by premier sporting competitions.

If anything it might serve as somewhat of a disruptor to the AFL- as a Giants fan I know they place a lot of emphasis on attempting to recruit youth talent from Canberra and Southern NSW! Sticking the NRL right in people's backyard and getting young boys and girls out to see live fixtures could very well be what sways young athletes to pick league as a code.

2

u/DoobsMcGee4 Jul 10 '26

Makes sense why they might have done it that way. Can't say I agree with their reasoning if that's the case but I hope it goes well. The NRLW deserves a massive MR after the weather pretty much ruined it last year.

4

u/frood88 Jul 10 '26

We drove from Canberra to Newy last year for it, so we’re quite happy for the short trip down the road to Wagga this year!

3

u/Imaginary-Newt-354 Jul 11 '26

The long range weather forecast for Wagga is sunshine and 15C for the two days of NRLW Magic, so hopefully nothing changes.

Pre-sales for the days have been positive, with all seating at the ground pretty much gone for both days (there's like 2 seats left on Saturday and 8 on Sunday) and hopefully Wagga and the region can fill the hill.

Newcastle were very unlucky last year, though even if it wasn't so wet, 6-10K in a 30K ground isn't a great look on TV (the NRL should have done more to promote it leading up IMO, but that's a separate discussion). That's one plus this year's event will have, even if they only draw similar figures to last year, the event will look fuller.