Wigan Warriors star backs Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium for more rugby league events amid 'unbelievable' verdict
Wigan Warriors star Harry Smith is up for taking more rugby league events to Hill Dickinson Stadium, describing the atmosphere as ‘unbelievable’ during England’s second Ashes Test against Australia.
The second Ashes Test, which Australia won 14-4, was the first non-football event at the ground, with a sell-out crowd of 52,106 packing the waterfront stadium.
The state-of-the-art facility, which cost approximately £800million, opened its doors back in February, initially to 10,000 supporters for an Under-18s football game between Everton and Wigan Athletic, before hosting its first Premier League fixture in August.
Smith didn’t feature in the opening Ashes Test at Wembley, but returned to Shaun Wane’s line-up for the second Test at Hill Dickinson Stadium, the home of his beloved Everton Football Club.
"I thought it was an unbelievable event, I thought the fans were unbelievable,” said Smith on his experience of playing at the new ground.
"I thought the game was a good standard for everyone to enjoy and sell the game, so all-round, the result set aside, I thought it was a big positive and one that I really enjoyed.”
For Smith, who made all but one appearance for Wigan in 2025, the experience of playing at Hill Dickinson Stadium highlighted the potential for rugby league to take more events there in the future.
“I went to one of the trial games they had, but it was not the same as that (second Test),” Smith smiled.
"I saw a few people in the warm-up with their beers and cheering us on, but I thought the event and the stadium itself were brilliant, and hopefully we can have a few more events there.
“I don’t know, Magic Weekend, a few Challenge Cup games, etc. Stuff like that to get the sport out there, get it seen by more people, get it sold out, etc. It’s only positive really.”
Magic Weekend initially faced being scrapped following Super League’s expansion to 14 teams, but discussions to keep the event in the calendar for 2026 and beyond remain ongoing.
St James’ Park – home of Newcastle United – has hosted seven of the last nine Magic Weekends, but Smith has suggested that Hill Dickinson Stadium – a close walk from Liverpool’s city centre – could be a future venue for Magic, or any other rugby league events for that matter.
"I’ve been before,” Smith smiled. “So around the stadium, they’ve got the nice big area for the fan village, it’s on the M62 as they say in rugby league, but then you can get into fans in Liverpool who might not normally watch the game, and it’s not far for (rugby league) people to come as well to watch the games. It’s not up to me, is it? But I’d happily take the invite if it comes about!”
For Smith, a proud Widnesian and Evertonian, getting to walk out at the home of his beloved Toffees doing the thing he loves with Wigan or England is a feeling that would never get old.