2025 Peter Mulholland Cup live stream: Hunter SHS v Hallam SC, finals play-in

Hunter Sports High has booked the final place in the Peter Mulholland Cup finals following an impressive win over Hallam in Thursday’s play-in clash. Watch the REPLAY here.

Hunter Sports High has surged into the finals of the Peter Mulholland Cup with a dominant play-in victory in Melbourne.

Despite having to travel to take on Hallam Secondary College, the Newcastle boys made light work of the Storm Cup champions with a convincing 44-20 victory to keep their season alive.

The visitors had a dream start with Australian Schoolboys representative Toby Winter needing just two minutes to showcase his class, returning a kick over 70m in one of the individual efforts of the season.

Their lead was 10 just minutes later when round three hero Archie McIlwain lept high to take in a bomb and score.

Toby Winter was terrific for Hunter in Thursday’s match. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography.

Hallam needed an answer and Phoenix Woods was the man to provide it.

The big front rower showcased his power with a devastating burst to go through the middle of Hunter’s defence to get the home side on the board in the 13th minute.

Within the space of four minutes Woods single-handedly turned the game on its head, powering his way over for a second to give Hallam its first advantage of the game.

Just as it looked like they would lead at the break, it was Winter again, backing up after a clean break from Asher Pung to send Hunter SHS into the sheds up 16-12.

That lead grew after a horror start to the second half for Hallam, spilling it from the kick-off and Will Manning going over in the corner with a diving effort just a few players later.

The game was threatening to get away from them, before a lovely offload from Jactin Samaeli freed up Memphis Wallace to get them back within a score.

Sadly for Hallam it was déjà vu, failing to complete the next set and Manning making them pay just moments later.

Winter’s hat-trick made the task near impossible for Hallam, as Billy Toms put Cooper Townsend into a gap, with the classy fullback in close quarters to make it a 16-point lead with 12 to play.

The result was sealed soon after with McIlwain got under another bomb, this time finding Kyran Blair to send them into the finals.

PREVIEW

For some it will be the first time they’ve hopped on a plane, as Hunter Sports High plans a hit and run mission to keep its Peter Mulholland Cup dream alive.

The boys from Newcastle have booked their spot in the play-in and face off with Storm Cup winners Hallam Senior College for the eighth and final spot in the finals.

The annual play-in clash will be exclusively live streamed for free on KommunityTV at 12pm, Thursday.

Hunter Sports High coach Tony Gleeson said his team can’t wait for the chance to experience road footy in Victoria to try and extend its season.

“They’re all really excited. Some haven’t been on a plane before and now they’re going down to Melbourne to have a run,” he said.

“It’s a bonding experience when you’re away overnight. You have to plan the trip well. We’ll have a little training run when we get down there.

“Even getting together for a meal. There’s really good positives we can take out of the whole experience.”

Storm prop Phoenix Woods has been massive for Hallam Senior College in its undefeated run to the Peter Mulholland Cup play-in final.

Hunter booked its spot in this fixture after a dramatic conclusion to its game against last year’s PMC grand finalists, the undefeated Endeavour Sports High.

In the final minute, Archie McIlwain scored the try that sealed a draw

“Endeavour was undoubtedly the form-team in our pool. After we were given a lesson by Farrer, it was a really good turnaround,” he said.

“The boys didn’t dwell on the loss. They played not only good footy, but tough and desperate footy. It was great to see that resilience.

“The number one thing (for Hallam) is to prepare for ourselves and our best brand of footy. We’ve built the Hunter Sports way of playing and have had a bit of success with these boys winning the University Shield last year.”

Knights SG Ball fullback and Australian Schoolboy Toby Winter will make his return for Hunter Sports High.

They’ll receive a huge boost with the addition of Australian Schoolboy Toby Winter and Country U18s representative Jaylan Bishop back in the side.

Hallam created a slice of competition history when they defeated Patrician Brothers Fairfield in last year’s play-in clash to book their spot in the PMC quarter-finals.

The undefeated Victorian giants, scored a combined 266 points in six games this season including last week’s 30-point triumph over rivals The Grange in the Storm Cup decider.

Hallam pack serious punch up front with a forward pack led by Storm young guns Phoenix Woods and Alipate Vaka, while dynamic stars Waka Hammond and Micah Warena work off the back of their forward momentum.

“Hallam is a big side,” Gleeson said. “They’re certainly very strong and they’ll be hard to beat.

“(In saying that) we’ve got a strong pack of forwards from the front row through to the back row.”