Magic Round is one of the NRL's greatest promotions. With every team, every game all at one ground.
It doesn't get much better than that.
Here are a few little things to make your Magic Round a bit more exciting. Something for you to look for while you're watching the footy, or a reason to watch a game you wouldn't normally tune into.
3. Cronulla Sharks vs Canberra Raiders
In times gone past, this would be a more exciting proposition than the Panthers versus Storm. Bringing flashbacks of Michael Ennis doing the Viking Clap to fans after the Sharks victory, there is just something about this game that's exciting.
While eight positions separate the two teams, this Raiders match screams danger for the Sharks. Don't forget, the Raiders were the first team to beat the Sharks this season, scoring in the dying minutes of their round one clash.
Bouncing off from a win against the Bulldogs, the Raiders will be hoping to turn one win into two to get their season back on track. With the Sharks having to shift around positions in the absence of Will Kennedy and Jesse Ramien, this could be the perfect time for the Raiders to strike.
Much like the Storm without Papenhuyzen and the Parramatta Eels when they lost several outside backs, the Sharks have a difficult choice ahead. Do they weaken a strength as Parramatta did by sending Dylan Brown to the centres? Or do they put in a worse fullback than Nicho Hynes or Matt Moylan to keep the halves in position?
Whichever decision they make, the Sharks have plenty of options and should be just fine for the fortnight that Kennedy is out. However, it only takes a team being a few percentage points down for the opposition to strike and it could be just enough for the Raiders.
