Live stream replay: Mount Ridley v Hallam Senior College, NRL Schoolboys Cup qualifier

Hallam Senior College has made a dominant start to the NRL Schoolboys Cup qualifiers against Mount Ridley. RE-LIVE all the action from the opening clash.

HALLAM Senior College have made an emphatic statement as the club put two years of Covid-19 interruptions in the rearview mirror.

Hallam were clinical as they dissected rivals Mount Ridley, to take the opening NRL Schoolboys Cup Victorian qualifier 38-0 at the iconic Gosch’s Paddock.

From the opening set of the game, Hallam were not afraid to chance their arm with the ball and used the full width of the paddock to strecth Mount Ridley.

WATCH THE REPLAY OF THE SCHOOLBOYS CUP QUALIFIER IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

They had scored three tries on the wings before Mount Ridley tasted their first set of attacking football, which was an early indication of the one-sided clash about to unfold.

It wasn’t just their work on the ball that impressed, with Hallam halfback Josiah Neli sure the coaches would be impressed with the side not conceding a try.

“The coacches would love the 0 on the scoreboard, but us boys love it all,” he said. “It’s great to stand up with our defence but also come up with a lot of points.

“Our boys and our school have been working really hard for the past five or six weeks. This performance shows just how hard we have been working.

“It is great, it is the best feeling to be able to play in the Storm Cup and push for a spot in the NRL Schoolboys Cup.”

Hallam’s win has sent an early shockwave through the Victorian qualifying series, and sets up an exciting showdown next Thursday with competition newcomers The Grange P-12 College.

Due to technical difficulties News Corp has been unable to provide a scoreboard on today’s NRL Schoolboys Cup qualifier stream. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

PREVIEW: Mount Ridley aims to make up for lost time

Covid may have put them on the back foot but they’re not going to let it get the best of them. Mount Ridley are back to reclaim their spot in the NRL Schoolboys Cup.

Two of Victoria’s top rugby league schools in Hallam and Mount Ridley, will feature in the first match of the inaugural NRL Schoolboys Victoria qualifiers which will be live streamed exclusively by NewsCorp from 1.45pm on Friday.

Mount Ridley were within arm’s reach of playing in the top-tier Schoolboys Cup in 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic rocked the sporting world and robbed them of the opportunity.

Mount Ridley will be one of the teams to kick off our exclusive live stream of the NRL Schoolboys Cup Victorian qualifiers on Friday which will include players Fa’alele, Junior and Shalom. Picture: Wayne Taylor 5th May 2022

Now after pretty much two years off the field, head coach Hamish Pearce said the qualifiers are Mount Ridley’s chance to right the wrongs of the past two years.

“We were looking very good in 2020 before it all went pear shaped and only got one game in last year, so it will take a while to rebuild after two years of not playing,” Mr Pearce said.

“We’ve got a younger team this year but we’re aiming to be competitive.”

Melbourne young gun Leviticus Amiatu is one player to watch out for in Friday’s qualifier against Hallam College along with a host of other young talent from Victorian rugby league programs.

“We had a couple of boys that played SG Ball for the Thunderbolts this year, so it’ll be great for them to bring that knowledge and experience to our team and I think they’ll be our key players this season,” Pearce said.

“Levi Amiatu is in the centres for us this year. He’s really quick and at the SG ball level he was a winger but I think he’s better suited for us in the centres.

“Lele Levae will play in the halves and Junior Seumanu will be up through the middle.”

“These boys have been involved in our elite sports program for the last four years so they’ve been around for a long time.”

Mount Ridley are ready for the challenge of facing rivals Hallam Senior College in the Melbourne Storm Cup. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Pearce said Hallam College “have been the pinnacle” for schools rugby league in Victoria.

But it won’t deter his troops from taking it to their rivals as they eye an opportunity to join the elite ranks of the NRL Schoolboy Cup.

“Hallam have been competing for about the last 10 years at this level and we’ve all just sort of caught up with them now,” Pearce said.

“We’ve got a good understanding of what the Victorian schools look like because most of the schools have come through the state programs.

“So we know what to expect from them, I think we’ll all be pretty competitive and we really thrive off that rivalry within the schools.”