Magic WKND try celebration pledge raises £15,000 for MND Association

Betfred has donated £15,000 to the MND Association following a blockbuster 48 hours of action at Betfred Super League’s Magic Weekend.

To mark the 19th Magic since the concept was launched in Cardiff in 2007, Betfred promised to donate £180 for every try celebration across the seven fixtures at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium and Stade Pierre-Fabre.

And after 62 tries were scored, the resulting £11,160 pot has been rounded up by Betfred so that the MND Association now receives £15,000.

York Knights winger Jon Bennison crossed for the first try of the weekend with his rendition of the robot the first of many celebrations including Lachlan Walmsley’s surprise ‘Uno’ card reveal which was the highlight of Sunday’s billing which earned a £1,000 bonus. 

Players also threw their support behind South Sydney Rabbitohs forward Jai Arrow - who revealed he has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease earlier this year - with several arrow style celebrations on both days.

The competition’s title sponsors introduced the initiative in 2025 to rally around the MND community following the death of former Leeds Rhinos and England star Rob Burrow.

Last season, £10,000 was raised for the MND Association following a stunning 48 hours of action at Super League’s Magic Weekend in Newcastle. A total of 41 tries were scored, with the resulting £7,380 pot rounded up to £10,000 by Betfred.

Rhodri Jones, Rugby League Commercial’s Managing Director, said: “It has been great seeing so many great tries over this record-breaking Magic WKND – and similarly some great try celebrations all of which has aided the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

“Thanks to the generous support of Betfred again for helping such a terrific cause with all those 180s here at Hill Dickinson Stadium and congratulations to Lachlan Walmsley on coming out on top.”