Storm Cup final live stream: Defending champions Hallam College take on Victoria University

Victoria University Secondary College is Storm Cup champion for the first time after holding off a late Hallam surge to claim the title. Watch the full grand final replay here.

Victoria University Secondary College has claimed its first ever Storm Cup, holding off a fast finishing Hallam to win the title 16-14 on Wednesday.

Completing the perfect season in the competition with three pool wins and a semi-final win, Victoria University survived a scare in the final five minutes from 2022 champions Hallam to triumph.

After a close start early, with scores level for the first 14 minutes, a five-minute burst opened up the game as Victoria University took control of the contest.

WATCH THE REPLAY IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

Vic Uni Secondary’s grand final win was their first Storm Cup title. Picture: Michael Klein

Half-back Philip Masalosalo charged through the Hallam defence, breaking multiple tackles to sneak over the line to score to give Victoria University the early lead, 6-0.

Four minutes later the team extended the margin to 10 after a great move down the right hand side led to Cueston Galuega scoring.

Hallam responded right before half-time to score to reduce the margin to 10-4 at the break before scoring again not long after the break to reduce the margin to two.

Back Jethro Scanlan crossed the but the team was unable to add the conversion to level the scores.

That would become crucial as Victoria University scored what would be the decisive try in the 45th minute.

After multiple attacks on the line, Elijah Po Ching stormed over the line to make it 14-8 with Masalosalo then adding the conversion in front of goal to make it 16-8.

It would prove to be a handy two points as Hallam fought back late with one more try to make it 16-14 but couldn’t add any more points.

Victoria University held of two late sets from Hallam in the final five minutes to secure a historic win for the school.

The school will now compete in the Peter Mulholland Cup quarter-finals, looking to knock off the best schools in New South Wales and become the best in Australia.

PREVIEW

At least at the end of this year’s second edition of the Storm Cup, there will be no doubt about who will be winning the trophy.

That comes after changes were made following the 2022 decider when there was no chance for extra time, due to the circumstances of where the game was held, and both teams shared the title.

For one of the teams, Hallam College, it was certainly a bittersweet feeling and they are keen to make up for lost time by winning the title outright this time around.

Catch them against the impressive Victoria University in the final on Wednesday at Seabrook Reserve from 12.30pm.

You can watch all the action from the grand final live and exclusive on Kommunity TV.

Check out the full NRL Schoolboys draw for this week.

Hallam and The Grange couldn’t be split in last year’s decider and the schools became joint title holders.

That won’t be the case this year with extra time promised if scores are level after fulltime.

And with the winner enjoying a passage into the Peter Mulholland Cup quarterfinals to take on the best NSW school squads for a chance to be Australia’s best, the desire to win is greater than ever.

Hallam coach Jamie Fardell said the team has a proud history of being among the best in the competition.

Now, it hopes to reclaim the honour at an outright level.

“We’re keen to keep our mantle,” Fardell said.

Hallam and Vic Uni will face off in the Storm Cup decider.

“We’re really proud of the history that we’ve had with the schoolboys competition and we’ve felt like we’ve been number one, so we want to make sure we keep the mantle.”

Hallam played their best match of the competition thus far in the semi finals, beating The Grange 28-16.

After being their own worst enemy early in the tournament, Hallam bounced back, reducing their errors and punishing the opposition on the scoreboard.

Fardell is hoping for more of the same in the final.

“The big focus was on minimising mistakes, keeping it really simple and playing really direct, it seemed to work,” he said.

“We had about five of six out to be honest.

“Injuries and suspensions from weekend rugby league and a range of other things had an impact on us.

“But the amount of extra people who had to step in, we were a little bit worried heading in, but they stuck to their guns and got the reward.”

The coach revealed two of the six players out will return for the final, but the team who did the job in the semi will need to do the same in the final.

Fardell said the focus to stop Victoria University would be minimising their metres in the middle, stopping their set piece plays and sticking their tackles on the opposition.

“We always look forward to our competitions with Victoria University,” he said.

“They play the game well and in the right spirit.”

Victoria University also head into the clash with players out.

Denzo Atileo, who was the best forward in the semi for the team, is out with other commitments so he will leave a void in the middle.

“That hurts us a little bit, but it’s an opportunity for another person to step up,” Victoria University coach Tony Adams said.

Vic Uni prevailed when the two teams met back in May.

“It doesn’t matter who’s got the jumpers on, I’m sure they’ll give 100 per cent.”

Adams said the transition of the team to go from almost bottom to the top has been a four-year process and he’s been proud of how the team has gone about building.

“We talked about a bit of resurrection for us as a program and we wanted to be somewhere up the top,” he said.

“We identified what was required, which needed a commitment from the players.

“We’ve got a really good group, one of the best groups I've been involved with.”

While Adams said he’s been proud of the team for getting to this position, the job is not done and he is wary of a Hallam outfit who are finding their best form at the pointy end of the tournament.

“They’ve got some ammunition there and are well coached,” he said.

“I’ve coached as if they are at their best and we know they are going to throw a little bit at us.

“We need to be strong in a couple of areas to make sure we nullify what we perceive as their strengths.

“We won’t get any rest in defence.”

But Adams is confident his team can be good in defence and attack to win the historic first title for the club.

“Whoever gets the ascendancy through the middle of the park and can generate some momentum (can win),” he said.

“Both sides have got very good hookers, so whichever hooker has the greatest influence will win them the game.”