Parramatta Eels 30–16 Newcastle Knights — Qualifying Final, 1999 NRL Finals Series

4 Sep 1999 · Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta, NSW · Attendance: 22,053

Data last verified: 11 August 2026.

Qualifying Final, 1999 NRL finals series: Parramatta Eels 30–16 Newcastle Knights, at Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta, NSW on 4 Sep 1999.

Sourcing caveat: Try-scoring minutes were not found for this fixture. Clinton Schifcofske's kicking is sourced only as a combined 7/7 total (14 points); with 4 tries scored, only 4 conversion attempts were possible, so at least 3 of the 7 successful kicks were penalty goals — but the exact conversion/penalty split within the 7 cannot be uniquely deduced from the tries alone (more than one split is arithmetically possible), so it is recorded honestly as a combined total rather than asserted as a specific split. Jersey numbers as sourced include some apparent squad-number oddities (Luke Burt at #17, Adam MacDougall at #19) — recorded exactly as reported by Rugby League Project rather than corrected to positional numbering.

Scorers

Parramatta EelsTries: Cayless; Grothe; Schifcofske; Smith
Goals: Schifcofske combined for 7 successful kicks worth 14 points — the conversion/penalty-goal split could not be confirmed and is not asserted
Newcastle KnightsTries: Albert; Butterfield; Gidley
Goals: Johns (2/3 conversions)

Team sheets

Parramatta EelsNewcastle Knights
1Clinton SchifcofskeFullbackRobbie O'Davis1
2Daniel WagonWingDarren Albert2
3David KidwellCentreMatthew Gidley3
17Luke BurtCentreMark Hughes5
5Eric GrotheWingAdam MacDougall19
6Jim DymockFive-EighthMatthew Johns6
7David PennaHalfbackAndrew Johns7
8Dean Pay (c)PropTony Butterfield (c)8
9Dean SchifillitiHookerDanny Buderus9
10Michael VellaPropClinton O'Brien10
11Nathan HindmarshSecond RowPeter Shiels11
12Jarrod McCrackenSecond RowSean Rudder12
13Jason SmithLockBill Peden13
Substitutes
4Stuart KellyGlenn Grief14
14Dennis MoranDavid Lomax15
15Mark TookeyDaniel Smailes16
20Nathan CaylessSteve Simpson17
Brian SmithCoachWarren Ryan

Match officials

RefereeSteve Clark

Match report

Parramatta's attacking backline, led by Eric Grothe and Clinton Schifcofske, ran in four tries to overpower a Newcastle side featuring Andrew and Matthew Johns. The 2nd-seeded Eels' win earned them a clean bye straight through to the Preliminary Final.

Sources

← 1999 NRL Season — ladder & full finals series