Aaron Payne Cup: Cairns on the radar to join schoolboys comp
A review of the structure of North Queensland’s elite schoolboys rugby league competition could pave the way to a future Cairns presence.
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A REVIEW of the structure of North Queensland’s elite schoolboys rugby league competition could pave the way to a future Cairns presence.
Townsville nurseries Kirwan State High School and Ignatius Park College will today face off in the final of the Aaron Payne Cup.
Kirwan is the defending national champion but will have to overcome its nearest rival to qualify for a place in the state final.
Both schools have produced plenty of Cowboys and other NRL stars over the years. Justin Hodges, Michael Morgan, Valentine Holmes and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are among graduates from the nurseries.
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Cairns has a proud history of producing rugby league players who go on to the highest level, but the region does not feature in the state’s most prestigious schoolboys competitions.
There is a chance that could change in coming years.
Queensland Secondary Schools Rugby League president Andrew Peach said it was something the governing body intended to look at during the a post-season review.
“We’ve always had a desire to include Cairns,” Peach said.
“There’s a long history of success in rugby league.
“Schools like Trinity Bay, St Augustine’s College, and when I was growing up I remember hearing stories of Cairns High’s strength.”
Nothing is confirmed, though discussions have taken place, and the end-of-season review could pave the way for a team to come out of the Far North.
“The fact the Northern Pride is there and there is that pathway is a big factor,” Peach said. “We want kids to be able to play at the highest level. Everything is on the table.
“We want kids to be able to stay at their school, in their community and with their parents and families.”
There are a number of former Cairns, Tablelands and Cassowary Coast talents set to be playing in the finals of either the Aaron Payne Cup or the south-east corner equivalent, the Langer Cup.
Kirwan’s Jeremiah Nani, who was just named the first winner of the Michael Morgan Medal, will be a key player in a Kirwan line-up which includes Australian under-15s rep and junior rugby star Manihi Maurangi, Tully junior Max Hayley and Bowen-born Mareeba junior Dudley Dotoi.
Xavier Savage, the Cairns product who has starred in both codes of rugby and runs 100m in the blink of the eye, is playing for Palm Beach Currumbin in its Langer Cup final against Keebra Park.
AARON PAYNE CUP
Grand final
Kirwan State High School v Ignatius Park College.
The final will be live-streamed by the Cairns Post at cairnspost.com.au/sport.
Kick-off is at 2.45pm.
Originally published as Aaron Payne Cup: Cairns on the radar to join schoolboys comp