2025 NSW NRL Schoolgirls Cup live stream: Hills Sports High v Erindale College

Hills Sports High have locked up a finals spot with one game to go in the regular season after outlasting a valiant Erindale College on Thursday. Watch the REPLAY.

Hills Sports High powered into the next stage of the Schoolgirls Cup after taking down a determined Erindale College 38-18 at Seiffert Oval.

Hills dominated the early possession and a scrum play saw Anika Penitani put captain Anastasia Leatupue through a huge gap to open the scoring inside three minutes.

They couldn’t complete the set after points however, and the boot of Adelaide Norris made them pay with a perfect cross-field kick hitting Matilda Allard on the chest to hit back.

WATCH THE FULL MATCH REPLAY ABOVE

Erindale returned the favour with a kick-off error, and again Hills punished them from a scrum as a wide-running Anita Ropati was able to find Leisiliva Tanaki out wide to score.

Remarkably, Hills couldn’t contain the ensuing kick-off, and Saige Fattore looked like she was shot out of a cannon off the scrum, powering through the defence to go over untouched.

Right on cue Erindale was unable to reel in the restart, but a Hills error let them off the hook, before they countered with the play of the game.

Fattore hit a short ball at speed, breaking through the line and drawing Ropati to put Charli Gault over and give the home side its first lead of the game.

The points continued to flow as Penitani lobbed a super ball over the top for Mary Polu to score in the corner, before Lyric Salafai added another before the break to make it 20-14 in favour of Hills.

A lovely finish from Gault after some strong lead-up work from Norris saw Erindale strike first in the second half to bring it back to two, but it was soon beyond a converted try when taking advantage of a quick play-the-ball.

Their lead became unassailable when Finn Burchell saw her chance to pounce from dummy half, capping a great second half from Hills.

PREVIEW

Scrappy can sometimes mean not pretty, but at times you just have to do what is needed to advance in the Schoolgirls Cup.

Hills Sports High isn’t scared to play ugly footy if it means keeping its season alive, although they are looking for more finesse as they prepare for a showdown with Erindale College in round two.

The clash will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV at 12pm on Thursday.

Hills Sports High started their 2025 NSW Schoolgirls Cup title defence with a win over rivals Hunter Sports High. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

As they look to improve to 2-0, they’re backing their ability and processes to punch their ticket into the finals.

“It was a scrappy win. There’s a lot to work on, but we have a lot to work with,” Hills Sports High head of sport Luke Jorgensen said.

“Hunter is a strong team and to get the win on the day, we’re proud of our girls.

“It was classic school footy. It doesn’t matter how you get the job done, just as long as you get the job done.

“We’ll go back to the drawing board and see what we can work on. But we have full faith in the coach. She’s been doing it for three years and holding strong.”

Patricia Raikadroka brings experience as a Prime Ministers XIII and Fiji representative, and more recently as the City U19s coach.

It’s what she does away from coaching that Jorgensen believes gives her the greatest impact as a mentor.

Patricia Raikadroka of the Women's Prime Minister's XIII against Fiji on October 11, 2019. Picture: Nathan Hopkins/NRL Photos

“What I see as an external party is she is more than a coach to them. She’s a mentor and a friend. Not only her but the whole staff,” he said.

“We look at the team as a holistic approach. Patricia is always there for the girls when they need a shoulder to cry on or want to better their technique.

“She’s played the game at a high level and knows what it takes, particularly to help these girls achieve as much as they can.”

One of the high level talents within this group is captain Anastasia Leatupue, who Jorgensen praised for how she is leading them forward.

Aliahana Fuimaono will be tasked with leading the forwards for Hills Sports in the absence of NSW U19 representative Ella Walker. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

“She’s one of those girls that leads from the front and lets her actions do the talking,” he said.

“Our forwards are on the front line and she’s pushing them and encouraging them forward. Playing in that junior reps system, it comes natural to her.

“Ana has been able to find that role well. It’s what the girls do, they’re always there for each other.”

Hills will be without Ella Walker who is on NSW U19s duties, but are boosted with star second rower Aliahana Fuimaono leading the forward charge.

Originally published as 2025 NSW NRL Schoolgirls Cup live stream: Hills Sports High v Erindale College