Jamie Langley column

Magic Weekend has received its fair share of stick recently but we can’t wait to head to Cardiff.

From a player’s perspective it’s a great event and I think it’s the right idea to kick-start the season, especially by bringing back the derby games.

Road trips are a welcome break from routine and you don’t often get to play in a great stadium like this, so there’s an added incentive to show what you can do.

Plus, the fans I’ve spoken to so far are all revved up about it. I’ve been told plenty of times how important it is for us to beat Leeds and we’re keen to reward the fans’ faith in us.

There’s no doubt it would be better if we could play in front of a full house at Magic Weekend but even a quarter full, you get that atmosphere and that feel of playing inside a big stadium. It’s quite a surreal experience.

There are some big challenges ahead for us. We’ve got a new coaching staff and virtually a new squad but everyone has gelled well, so we’re confident despite the tough start.

Some of the boys won’t have experienced a derby like this before so we’ve tipped them off about what to expect, so they understand the history and rivalry between the clubs.

It’s exciting to be playing with so many new players but I don’t think anyone’s as excited as Platty about the signings.

Last year he was on his own travelling over the hills in his Range Rover but he refused to give it up, even though it was costing him an arm and a leg, because he wants to live the life of a professional sportsman. I think he wants to play for Man United really.

Now we’ve got a few more Lancashire lads in the squad and they’ve all had a good impact. Bryn Hargreaves is one of them and he’s a real energiser who sparks the lads up.

It was hard losing Wagga, who was a great character, but Bryn has helped soften the blow and we’ve got a good mix in the squad.