Warrington Wolves' James Harrison on Elland Road dream

For James Harrison, however, there was the complete opposite feeling.

As a Leeds native and a diehard Leeds United fan, the prospect of stepping out at the home of his heroes set the pulse racing – even if he’ll be on the opposite side to his home city when he does.

Now the big day has finally come around, the Warrington Wolves prop stands on the brink of realising a childhood dream.

“I don’t think there were too many people happy about it, but I was one of them,” he said upon hearing Magic Weekend 2024 was to be played at Elland Road.

“It’s unbelievable as I’ve had a season ticket there for 18 seasons now. It’s always been a dream of mine to play there.

“I’ve been joking with the lads that I’ve completed rugby league now as I’ve played for England, played at Wembley and now at Elland Road.

“I’ve just got a Grand Final with Warrington to go and then I’ll be pretty happy!”

As the big front-rower explains, Leeds United home games are a family affair for the Harrisons – and it hasn’t always been plain sailing.

His father Karl – the former Great Britain international prop – is still a regular at away fixtures too.

“I’ve not had many good years as a Leeds fan – we got relegated in my first year of going to games,” Harrison the younger said.

“I was there for all of League One and then the tough years in the Championship. When we were good under Marcelo Bielsa and got to the Premier League, it was during Covid so there were no fans in the ground.

“We got promoted behind closed doors and then we had the Premier League year behind closed doors – as a fan, it felt stolen but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

“I’ve still got my season ticket – I go with my Dad, my Grandad, my uncle and my cousin.

“We used to go to away games as well but it clashes with rugby for me, but my Dad still does aways. He’s not missed a game since before Covid, home or away.

“We sit near the Kop on the goal line – it will be full of Rhinos fans on Saturday where we sit!”

Given his allegiances to the city’s football team, Harrison has understandably been at the heart of Super League’s promotion of the 17th Magic Weekend.

And given that led to an encounter with some of the players he goes to Elland Road to watch, it is something he has been happy to do.

Harrison and Leeds Rhinos prop Mikolaj Oledzki – two men who will be in direct opposition on Saturday night – took part in a series of promotional challenges with Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow and forwards Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt at the club’s training ground.

And the Wire man says that too was a day that will live long in the memory.

“It was pretty weird driving in there and I was a bit nervous to get out of the car,” he said.

“We were waiting on the field for the players – footballers are fashionably late to everything so we were waiting for a good hour!

“You see all the Lamborghinis driving in and you realise that footballers are just a different level.

“Patrick Bamford is a pretty big name at Leeds and in football, so it was surreal meeting him but him, Joe Gelhardt and Karl Darlow were really good blokes and we had a good laugh with them.

“I got a free away shirt out of it too – I didn’t get it signed as I didn’t want to be too much of a fanboy. I got a photo, though!”

James Harrison with Leeds Rhinos prop Mikolaj Oledzki and Leeds United's Karl Darlow and Patrick Bamford (Image: MATTHEW_MERRICK_PHOTOGRAPHY)

And now comes the moment he has been waiting for – striding out onto the Elland Road pitch with the stands packed to the rafters.

With the Rhinos being their opposition, Harrison knows he won’t be the intended recipient of most of the adulation as a partisan crowd is likely to await him and his Wire teammates.

Still, it is a moment nobody will be able to take away.

“When I go to home games, I always say to my Dad that it must be some buzz for the players to come out to a full ground and hearing Marching On Together,” he said.

“Obviously, they’ll be singing it for the Rhinos but after the game, I’m sure I’ll reflect on it as a very special moment.

“I’ve tried not to think about it too much as I don’t want to be taken aback by it.

“I honestly can’t wait and I’m so happy we’re playing against Leeds Rhinos as well – the place will be full and it’s the headline game. I feel so lucky and blessed to be able to do that.

“The lads have been joking with me about what celebration I’d do if I scored a try – I’ve been trying to think of some iconic Leeds celebrations but I don’t think there are many.

“I might just do a little Leeds salute to the camera – Leeds fans will know what I’m on about.

“I’ve dreamt about scoring but I’ll be happy not to if we get the win.”

Sentiment aside, Harrison knows it will be all business once the whistle blows on Saturday evening in a game both sides need to win for different reasons.

Two defeats to Warrington already this year – including one just last month – have hindered Leeds’ push for the play-offs, but with head coach Brad Arthur now starting to make his mark, are the Wire squad expecting the best version of the Rhinos to date?

“I think they’re a different beast,” Harrison said.

“We watched their game against Wigan on the bus down to London and they were pretty impressive.

“Wigan weren’t at their best but putting 30 points on them is still hard to do, and you can tell they’re valuing their defence a lot more.

“It’s only been three or four weeks since we last played them but they’re a totally different team.

“We’ve done a lot of video on them and we respect them, so I think we’re going to have to be at our best to beat them.”