Magic Round is preparing for its fifth installment in 2024, with the concept now guaranteed to continue in the Queensland capital until at least the end of 2027.

For rugby league fans, that is simply good news.

Magic Round has served up some belters over the years, and the games being played at the best rectangular stadium in the country simply works.

READ: The ULTIMATE Magic Round meal plan

Ahead of the 2024 installment, Zero Tackle are winding the clock back to look at the best games played on Magic Round so far.

Here are the top six.

4. Canberra Raiders 34 defeat Canterbury Bulldogs 30, 2023

In good news for rugby league fans - maybe not those who support either club given the heart attacks this one caused last year - the same two teams will open the 2024 edition of Magic Round.

The Raiders and Bulldogs weren't expected to produce one of the games of the weekend last year, but that's exactly what happened, with the Raiders just edging out a fast-finishing Canterbury, hanging on 34 points to 30.

After leading 22-18 at the end of a high-scoring first half, it was Canberra who scored the first two tries of the second half to take a 32-18 lead with 20 minutes to play.

A try to Jake Averillo closed the game to eight, before a penalty goal opened it back up to ten. Hayze Perham would then score with four minutes to play, cutting the lead to four, but in the end, the Bulldogs couldn't find a late winner.

 2023-05-05T08:00:00Z 
 
 
Suncorp Stadium
CAN   
30
FT
34
   CBR
   Crowd: 41,462

Match summary: Canberra Raiders 34 (Tries: Jordan Rapana, Xavier Savage, Matthew Timoko, Hudson Young, Jordan Rapana, Jarrod Croker; Conversions: Jarrod Croker 4/6, Penalty Goals: Jarrod Croker 1/1) defeat Canterbury Bulldogs 30 (Tries: Jacob Preston [2], Jake Averillo [2], Hayze Perham; Conversions: Matt Burton 5/5)