BRISBANE, Australia, 2 June 2003 — Mercurial Newcastle scrum-half Andrew Johns ruined the Brisbane Broncos’ Lang Park homecoming party with a smashing 32-22 National Rugby League victory here yesterday.

The majority of the 46,337 fans had come in the expectation of the Broncos pushing aside the Knights and winning their first match back at the revamped Queensland rugby league headquarters since 1992.

But the Knights spoilt the celebrations, coming back from 10-12 down at halftime to lead 32-10 before two consolation tries for Brisbane.

Johns was at the heart of everything in Newcastle’s first victory over the Broncos in 10 attempts in Brisbane since both teams entered the league in 1988.

Newcastle winger Anthony Quinn turned the game for Newcastle with tries on either side of halfway, the first with 32 seconds left in the first half to cut the lead to 12-10 and the second two minutes after the re-start grabbing an intercept pass 50 meters out.

Champions Sydney Roosters became the first visiting team to win at Olympic Park this season beating Melbourne Storm 27-20.

The Roosters reversed a 12-2 deficit to steamroll Melbourne in the second half and break the Storm’s unbeaten home record.

Melbourne had been excellent for the first 35 minutes, racing to a 12-2 lead but the Roosters opened up the Storm in the second half.

North Queensland winger Matt Sing scored a first-half double as the Cowboys stunned St George Illawarra 36-16 at Kogarah Jubilee Stadium.

Sing won the race to two Chris Sheppard kicks in the first half and has now scored 14 tries in 11 games this season, making him the equal leading try-scorer in the premiership with Penrith’s Rhys Wesser.

Dragons fans started making for the exits with 20 minutes remaining after the Cowboys added second half tries through Ty Williams and Glenn Morrison.

The six-try romp elevated the Cowboys above St George Illawarra and the Bulldogs on the NRL ladder and into the top eight.

Canberra Raiders beat the Cronulla Sharks 20-14 on Friday to consolidate top spot on the standings and ended Cronulla’s three-match winning streak.

Kidney Transplant Next

Step for Stricken Lomu

In Auckland, rugby phenomenon Jonah Lomu will need a kidney transplant if he is to come off the renal dialysis treatment he has just begun for his rare chronic kidney condition, his doctors say.

The 28-year-old All Black superstar, a household name around the world for his superb athletic prowess, started renal dialysis at Auckland Hospital Saturday after his kidney condition - nephrotic syndrome - deteriorated rapidly last month.

A kidney transplant is the next step if a compatible donor can be found, the Sunday Star-Times reported.