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