PARRAMATTA EELS	GAME 2	MELBOURNE STORM
26	Saturday, 17 of April 1999	14
Tries	Referee : Bill Harrigan	Tries
L Burt 2	Venue : Parramatta Stadium	M Geyer
S Kelly	Crowd : 11,249	M Bai
J Smith	Half Time : 12-8 Parramatta	S Hill
Goals		Goals
L Burt 4/5		M Geyer 1/3
C Schifcoske 1/1
COMMENTS : Parramatta started this game at a million miles an hour and had racked up a 12-0 lead after 20 minutes. The Storm hit back superbly to be only 4 points down at half time. The second half was a swaying affair with each team giving their all. The Storm were their own worst enemies however with lots of dropped ball. The most damaging was by Scott Hill 10 metres out in front of his sticks, right after Jason Smith had spilt it.Jason Smith went on to redeem himself and score under the posts with a strong run. After the game, Brian Smith spoke out to the media who had written off and bagged the Eels for their play in recent weeks. He said he was glad that they do it and to keep on bagging them so they will win like in this game!

PENRITH PANTHERS	GAME 3	CRONULLA SHARKS
18	Saturday, 17th of April 1999	16
Tries	Referee : Tim Mander	Tries
P Jorgenson	Venue : Penrith Football Stadium	J Stevens
R Girdler	Crowd : 17,036	R Richardson
S Elford	Half Time : 10-6 Cronulla	M Rogers
Goals		Goals
R Girdler 3/4		M Rogers 2/3
COMMENTS : The run couldn't last forever! The Sharks were finally beaten by a very impressive Panthers side. Before the biggest side in 7 years at Penrith, the Panthers gave them lots to cheer about, although it wasn't all clear sailing. The Sharks lead at half time and looked home at 16-6 just after. However through some superb play from Gower and Girdler, the Panthers hit back with 2 more converted tries to win the game. Gower sealed his test spot with this performance, as did Mat Rogers (if it wasn't sealed before) Jorgenson, the 10 try hero for the Panthers came off the ground with a serious knee injury and could be a big blow for the Panthers. Cronulla still looked strong, but the Panthers defence was just too good on the night.

WESTERN SUBURBS MAGPIES	GAME 4	SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
20	Saturday, 17th of April 1999	18
Tries	Referee : Sean Hampstead	Tries
Kevin McGuiness 2	Venue : Sydney Football Stadium	L Hookey 2
J Brooker	Crowd : 9,135	C Wing
B Hodgson	Half Time : 8-6 South Sydney	J O'Neill
Goals		Goals
B Hodgson 2/4		D Trindall 1/1
L Dynevor 0/1		J O'Neill 0/3
COMMENTS : The Magpies finally win a game! The Rabbits went into this game with the wrong attitude and they ended up losing the 2 points that they needed. Wests deserved the victory though with lots of ball movement and a 'nothing to lose' attitude. Trindall had an ordinary game while Kevin McGuiness pulled off 2 inspirational tries. Well done to the Magpies. It's about time! 10 months without a win!

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS	GAME 5	BRISBANE BRONCOS
19	Sunday, 18th of April 1999	18
Tries	Referee : Brian Grant	Tries
D Albert 2	Venue : Marathon Stadium	S Walker
J Moodie	Crowd : 21,190	M Hancock
	Half Time : 10-4 Brisbane	L Priddis
Goals		Goals
A Johns 3/5		D Lockyer 3/4
M Johns 1 Field Goal
COMMENTS : A fantastic game this one! Newcastle and Brisbane always have top class games and this was no exception. Sparkling offense, tough defence. This game had it all. Andrew Johns was knocked out in the first half and played the remainder of the game with concussion and blurred vision. He still managed to fire some rifle pin point accurate passes to his teammates to set up tries. Darren Albert had a superb game, stepping around Michael Hancock as easy as you please for one try. Paul Harrogan played a big part in this game also, but unfortunately not enough to make the Test team. Matthew Johns' field goal sealed the match, but it looks like the Broncos may be back from the dead after an impressive performance. One still gets the feeling that the 'unbeatable' tag for the Broncos is well and truly gone.

BALMAIN TIGERS	GAME 6	MANLY SEA-EAGLES
18	Sunday, 18th of April 1999	12
Tries	Referee : Matthew Hewitt	Tries
M Gillett	Venue : Leichhardt Oval	D Gartner
J Caine	Crowd : 13,286	A Frew
D Senter	Half Time : 6-0 Balmain
Goals		Goals
J Caine 3/4		A Brown 2/4
COMMENTS : The ghost of Craig Field haunted the Sea-Eagles as he inspired Balmain to a gritty and convincing win. The Tigers and Field got away to a 18-0 lead but let manly in fior 2 2nd half tries to give them a sniff of a draw. Field played well for a player who hasn't played a full first grade game this year. He threw the last pass for all 3 tries and his kicking game was outstanding. Manly will be left thinking about another 2 points down the drain. They are now the only undefeated team in the comp. Back to the drawing board fellas!

ST.GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS	GAME 7	CANBERRA RAIDERS
44	Sunday, 18th of April 1999	2
Tries	Referee : Steven Clark	Tries
N Blacklock 3	Venue : Kogarah Oval
A Mundine 2	Crowd : 12,237
J Ainscough	Half Time : 12-2 St.George-Illawarra
M Coyne
D Treacy
Goals		Goals
W Bartrim 5/6		L Williamson 1/1
R Wishart 1/2
COMMENTS : A Demolition job! The Dragons continued their hot form from the week before to run rampant over the Raiders. Canberra had no answers as the likes of Blacklock and Mundine just ran through them. Highlights were accentuated by a backflip from Mundine and then out done by a cartwheel AND backflip from Nathan Blacklock after his 3rd try. With the Dragons in this hot form, I pity the next teams to face them! (Being Cronulla, Sydney City and Penrith!)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS	GAME 8	AUCKLAND WARRIORS
24	Sunday, 18th of April 1999	0
Tries	Referee : Moghsheen Jadwat	Tries
M Ryan 2	Venue : Ericcson Stadium
N Nadruku	Crowd : 8,954
B Jellick	Half Time : 24-0 North Queensland
Goals		Goals
G Bourke 4/4
B Jellick 0/1
COMMENTS : The Cowboys were due for their first win, and boy did Auckland let them! The Warriors were woeful as the Cowboys ran in 4 simple tries all in the first half. Auckland tried to get on the scoreboard in the 2nd half, but were denied 3 times by the video referee. Time to start again Auckland!