SCOTTISH Super League star Jon Steel today set the scene for Murrayfield's "magic weekend" of rugby league by putting the event on a par with the two Challenge Cup Finals that have already taken place in the Capital.
It has been announced that on May 2 and 3 next year all 14 Super League sides will advance on Murrayfield for seven matches over two days after the Scottish Rugby Union out-bid Cardiff and Dublin for the event.
And for winger Steel that could mean
a nostalgic return with Hull Kingston Rovers after winning Scotland rugby union caps in the stadium, including when marking All Black legend Jonah Lomu, before switching codes four years ago.
"Murrayfield has already hosted the Challenge Cup Final in 2000 and 2002 and while Magic Weekend is different in the sense that more than two teams are involved the atmosphere is just as special in its own way.
"When Hull KR played Hull in Cardiff earlier this year there was a real buzz created by supporters of all the clubs many of whom came along to appreciate good rugby league.
"I'm sure Scottish rugby union fans will get caught up in the friendliness and just enjoy a really good spectacle with all the big names taking part.
"Among those to watch out for will be Leeds Rhinos' nippy little Great Britain scrum half Rob Burrow and the St Helens pair Leon Pryce and Sean Long.
"As for the Wigan Warriors squad Iafeta Paleaaesina is a massive man who is very destructive."
At the same time the five-times capped Steel admits he is hoping to use the occasion to showcase talents he feels have developed since joining Hull KR.
"At the time they came along I was at the Borders and things were quite unsettled. I had a bit of rugby league in my blood and decided to give it a go.
"I took with me great memories of playing for Scotland including a match against USA alongside fellow debutants including Simon Taylor and Alan Bulloch and maybe one day I will return to rugby union.
"I remember thinking at the time how Alan Tait had left Scottish rugby for league and played in a World Cup final with Great Britain before returning.
"Meantime, I feel I am a much better player than when I was at Glasgow then Borders and pitching myself against the likes of Jonah Lomu. I remember back then people telling me just to go out and do my best but I was determined to put him down.
"I feel I've improved in the four years since I switched codes and the magic weekend will be a chance to prove it.
"By then, too, I hope to have returned from helping Scotland in the World Cup in Australia this Autumn and hopefully that will have raised the profile of rugby league so that there are even more people at Murrayfield who are prepared, above all, to applaud the skills and soak up the action.
"After all everybody who turns up will be an away fan and that is part of the huge appeal."
Steel has an important assignment this weekend when Hull KR take on their local rivals and he bids to score a try for the third consecutive game having crossed against both Castleford and Wigan.
• A SUPER LEAGUE spokesman today predicted attendances would total 70,000 over the weekend. A £25 ticket covering both days is available from the Murrayfield ticket office with briefs along with individual days.
The full article contains 598 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
