2025 Peter Mulholland Cup live stream: Holy Cross Ryde v All Saints Maitland, Round 1
One of Australia’s best young schoolboys has put in a starring performance for All Saints Maitland in the opening round of the Peter Mulholland Cup. Watch the full REPLAY here.
He plays for the same school and the same club, and despite looking like Andrew Johns on the field, Chase Butler established himself as a star of the future when All Saints Maitland defeated Holy Cross Ryde 40-14 in the first game of the Peter Mulholland Cup.
Just days after losing the Harold Matthews grand final to the Warriors, Butler bounced back for his school with a performance reminiscent of Newcastle’s greatest player.
The 16-year-old was involved in everything, sending a scary message to the rest of the competition and potentially a lot of NRL clubs.
The Kurri-Kurri Bulldogs junior had a quick start to the game, putting second rower Roy Simpson through a hole, before placing a pin point kick which led to All Saints winger Benji Thompson crossing the line to open the scoring.
The half-winger combo would team up again for All Saints second try, after Holy Cross knocked the ball on which led to a crisp long pass from Butler to his left winger Thompson.
Plagued with penalties, Holy Cross continued to struggle to complete their sets through the first half, with All Saints five-eighth Cody Field putting his imprint on the game.
Field, who was the St George Dragons fullback in Harold Matthews, stepped up after a line break down the middle of the field to Butler to deliver his own long ball for right winger Cody Bevis to score.
Continuing to try and one up his halfback, Field set up a long range try putting second rower Lewis Jones through a hole before giving an inside ball to centre Lachlan Brown to cross for a 20 point lead.
A further try to Bevis, and Butler and Simpson combining to put Field over saw the Maitland school take a 30-0 lead to close the half.
Holy Cross’s completion woes continued with their first set of the second half, losing the ball coming off their line before All Saints hooker Heath Connell diving over from the ruck.
Getting the ball back and being piggybacked up the field by a penalty, Holy Cross got their first attacking set of the game eight minutes into the second half.
A slick backline move saw Holy Cross winger Christopher Moala cross in the corner, before half Christian Azzi slotted it from the sideline.
Butler made sure the Holy Cross success was short lived, taking the line on himself and scoring after the Ryde school dropped the ball from the kick off.
Continuing to show signs of promise in the second half, Holy Cross travelled down to All Saints red zone with both centres Jarrod Kanaan and Matthew Fakhr busting over for consecutive tries.
EARLIER
The best schoolboy rugby league players in NSW will be on show when the 2025 Peter Mulholland Cup kicks off Tuesday with Holy Cross Ryde taking on All Saints Maitland from 11am at Woy Woy Oval.
A host of elite pathways players will be backing up from the Harold Matthews Cup grand final last Saturday.
Chase Butler, the classy halfback who led the Newcastle Knights against the Warriors in the U17s Harold Matthews Cup decider will spearhead the Maitland students.
The Knights went down narrowly to the Warriors, but Butler and co will be striving for redemption in the Peter Mulholland Cup opener streamed live and free on KommunityTV.
“Chase Butler is a halfback who is champing at the bit. He’s really skilful, leads the team around and is very much a leader in the squad,” All Saints head of sport Elliott Plank said.
“We’re very lucky to have a strong rugby league tradition at this school.
“We have a number of players at the Knights, St George and Manly, plus a few union boys and they’re helping those guys.
“That’s rubbing off onto the whole squad. The pathways boys and non-pathways boys are really keen to show what they can do on this stage.
“We’ve lost a bit of experience but it feels like we’ve gained some enthusiasm.”
All Saints’ clash with Holy Cross will be one of seven Peter Mulholland Cup fixtures exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Plank said while there is one eye on the future with the age of their squad, there is a real hunger within the group to push for higher honours in the present.
“We’re looking pretty good. Got a young side and a fair few of them played in Year 10 last year. With that little bit of experience they’re keen to have a crack,” he said.
“We feel like the draw is pretty good. We played a few of these sides last year and know what to expect with those guys.
“The boys have been training really well. The commitment they’ve shown in getting to training and getting around each other has been great.
“They keep each other accountable and they’re motivated to do better than last year. They’re doing everything we’ve asked of them.”
In terms of personnel, All Saints has benefited from high-level talents in a number of key positions.
“Cody Field is a fullback with St George in Harold Matts who is looking for a big year, and Charlie Jones played five-eighth in that team and brings a great kicking game and is a big, tough defender,” Plank said.
On the other side of the coin, Holy Cross College is led by Balmain Harold Matthews halfback Christian Azzi.
Azzi captained the Tigers throughout an improved U17s season, and he’ll be looking to carry his form over into the Schoolboys Cup.
He’s not the lone Balmain product in the side, with Sioeli Iongi, Christian Mardini and Jarrod Kanaan also set to feature in the opener.
Holy Cross will also feature Parramatta duo Christopher Moala and Michael Nauer, fresh off their appearance in the semi finals of the Harold Matthews Cup.
Watch All Saints take on Holy Cross live on KommunityTV from 11am Tuesday at Woy Woy Oval.
HOLY CROSS v ALL SAINTS
Holy Cross
1. Marcus Cesaro, 2. Christopher Moala, 3. Matthew Fakhr, 4. Jarrod Kanaan, 5. Cohen Davis, 6. Finn Kusto, 7. Christian Azzi, 8. Kasinga Noa, 9. Isaac Kusto, 10. Sioeli Iongi, 11. Michael Nauer, 13. James Baranowski, 14. Christian Mardini, 17. Jake Jasper, Tim White (Coach)
All Saints
1. Riley Rostron, 2. Cody Beavis, 3. Lachlan Brown, 4. Harrison Dunn, 5. Benji Thompson, 6. Cody Field, 7. Chase Butler, 8 Connor Cassidy, 9. Heath Connell, 10. Preston Metcalf, 11. Roy Simpson, 12. Lewis Jones, 13. Mason Walmsley, 14. Coby Balcombe, 15, Kaden Lawler, 16. Darcy Emmett, 17. Xavier Bellamy, 18. Lucas Walton
Originally published as 2025 Peter Mulholland Cup live stream: Holy Cross Ryde v All Saints Maitland, Round 1
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