Aaron Payne Cup and Cowboys Challenge Teams of the Season 2024
As North Queensland’s schoolboys rugby league season comes to a close we are celebrating the top talents of 2024 with teams of the season. See which 34 players made the cut from the two competitions.
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St Patrick’s College five-eighth Adam McSherry has been crowned the youngest player to win the Michael Morgan Medal as the Aaron Payne Cup player of the season, cementing his place in our team of the season.
St Patrick’s was defeated by the Kirwan Bears 24-16 in the grand final but McSherry still got the nod after topping the pointscoring (86) and tryscoring charts (9) in 2024.
What makes that achievement even more incredible is the fact he was the first year 11 player to claim the title, leaving open the potential to be the inaugural back-to-back winner if he can continue his fine form next year.
Despite McSherry’s heroics, supplemented by a fearsome forward pack, the Mackay school was unable to topple Kirwan in the decider.
The Cup-winning Bears dominated our team of the season with seven selections into the 17-player squad – the most of any school.
Pool A semi-finalists Ignatius Park College and St Pat’s each had three selections while Mackay State High, Trinity Bay State High, St Augustine’s College and Mareeba State High each earnt one selection.
It was a similar story in the Cowboys Challenge this year, where the Kirwan Cubs defeated St Patrick’s in the final 26-18 to be crowned champions.
Five Cubs earnt selection in the backline after starring throughout the season with two forward pack representative’s bringing the school’s tally to nine players in the team of the season.
St Patrick’s fearsome forward duo of Eli Cookson and Sangwani Chinula were two of the first players selected while the impressive up-and-coming program at Mackay State High delivered four exciting prospects to our standout 17.
St Augustine’s halfback Xavier Lallemand got a few tastes of senior Aaron Payne Cup action this season – including a baptism of fire on the wing in his school’s semi-final against the Kirwan Bears in a curtain-raiser for the Cowboys – and he will be primed to take his game to the next level in 2025.
AARON PAYNE CUP TEAM OF THE SEASON
1. LINCOLN BAKER (IGNATIUS PARK)
The Cowboys-signed fullback was an accurate goalkicker and he provided a big part of his side’s attacking spark, finishing as Ignatius Park’s equal-top pointscorer.
2. PATRICK KRAUSE (IGNATIUS PARK)
Krause has genuine speed to burn as well as good size, and his six tries were the most of any Iggy Park player.
3. REUBEN SARON (ST PATRICK’S)
Saron was a standout whether he was in the centres or on the wing. Scored four tries during his school’s campaign.
4. MASON RYAN-ELLUL (MACKAY SHS)
Mackay State High’s speedster was electric for his school, scoring two tries and throwing an assist during a memorable performance against Mareeba.
5. DAVIDSON BENIONI (KIRWAN)
Finished equal-top tryscorer with nine tries in eight games, scoring in all but one of Kirwan’s games.
6. ADAM MCSHERRY (ST PATRICK’S)
Crowned the player of the season after an incredible debut season in the Aaron Payne Cup where he finished with the most points (86) and tries (9).
7. D’ARTANYAN CONNOLLY (TRINITY BAY SHS)
Another rare year 11 inclusion in the Team of the Season, Connolly was one of the brightest lights for Trinity Bay in another tough year against the goliaths of Pool A.
8. SITIVENI AFU (IGNATIUS PARK)
Ignatius Park’s captain was the biggest piston within the school’s engine room, regularly inspiring his teammates with dominant runs and bone-crunching tackles.
9. JAY WHALEY (KIRWAN)
One of the best underdog stories of the year, Whaley became Kirwan’s first choice hooker after representative star Cooper Cox went down in the first set of their second game of the season. Whaley stepped up to become the competition’s most consistent dummy half and he played a key role in their success.
10. ENELIKO SAVELIO (KIRWAN)
Savelio constantly punched holes through opposition defences and has all the attributes of a first class prop.
11. WIL HOPE (KIRWAN)
The Bears’ towering co-captain started the season well and finished even stronger with his trademark tough carries, collecting four tries along the way.
12. JACK THORBURN (ST PATRICK’S)
One of St Patrick’s College’s unsung heroes, Thorburn was as reliable as it gets on the left edge. Moved a step wider into the centres for his school’s two finals matches.
13. JACK RIX (ST AUGUSTINE’S)
The Saints lock forced himself into the starting side with an incredible season with the Pool B champions, regularly featuring in our teams of the week.
14. LOGAN BROOKES (KIRWAN)
Brookes was outstanding in the Bears’ No.1 jersey, scoring three tries during an injury-interrupted season.
15. JASON HASTIE (MAREEBA)
Finished the season with four tries including an incredible front rower hat-trick against Holy Spirit in round 1. The dynamic lock was a regular standout with his strong carries and post-contact metres.
16. TAAKOI BENIONI (KIRWAN)
Whether he was playing in the backrow or in the centres, as he finished his season, Benioni made a huge impact on both sides of the ball.
17. COHEN DITTMANN (KIRWAN)
Kirwan’s tough and speedy centre is a talent worth earmarking. Scored six tries including a match-sealing solo effort in the grand final.
COWBOYS CHALLENGE TEAM OF THE SEASON
1. ERU GUNN-JAMES (KIRWAN)
Kirwan’s goalkicking fullback was reliably one of his side’s best, recovering from a mid-season injury to guide the Cubs to grand final victory.
2. DOUGIE WEBB (ST PATRICK’S)
St Patrick’s fullback Webb has a natural attacking instinct that repeatedly punished opposition.
The No.1’s timing and anticipation was outstanding, while his shifty evasion was on another level.
Expect Webb to be a force in the Aaron Payne Cup next year.
3. NEHEMIAH TAGALOA (KIRWAN)
Perhaps one of Kirwan’s unsung heroes this season, Tagaloa always made the most of his opportunities when the ball came his way.
4. TRENT MARTIN (KIRWAN)
Martin was simply electric all year including his time at fullback. A big body with great skills, he’s certainly been earmarked as a star of the future.
5. CLAVARN OTH (KIRWAN)
The big winger was a prolific tryscorer using his size and speed, but he also showed some tidy passing ability to find his inside men after linebreaks.
6. MANUA DAU (KIRWAN)
Dau was Kirwan’s dominant half and he has all of the aspects of a star playmaker. Whether sending his teammates through holes or scoring himself, Dau was always in the thick of everything positive for his school.
7. XAVIER LALLEMAND (ST AUGUSTINE’S)
Lallemand got a few tastes of senior Aaron Payne Cup action – including a baptism of fire on the wing in his school’s semi-final against the Kirwan Bears in a curtain-raiser for the Cowboys. Will be primed to take his game to the next level in 2025.
8. CHARLIE RIGGS (MACKAY SHS)
Riggs was a key pillar for his side, winning the ruck on a number of occasions to unleash his creative teammates Tom Bassett and Zac Campbell.
Riggs was outstanding in general play with the prop a juggernaut at times, particularly in the match against Mareeba SHS.
9. TOM BASSETT (MACKAY SHS)
Mackay’s rising star is the complete package. Great tackling, crisp service from the ground and enough speed to dart out of dummy half. A round 5 hat-trick inside 30 minutes was a season highlight.
10. ELI COOKSON (ST PATRICK’S)
The skilful front rower has the talent of a halfback and the strength of a rampaging bull. Already part of the Cowboys academy in Mackay, watch out for Cookson when he steps into the senior St Patrick’s team.
11. SANGWANI CHINULA (ST PATRICK’S)
Chinula was one of St Patrick’s top players, using his strength to break through any defender not willing to put their full effort into the tackle. The Cowboys-contracted backrower is as tough as they get.
12. ROCKY HANCOCK (MACKAY SHS)
Rocky Hancock has a lethal combination of speed and heavy duty stature built perfectly for breaking lines.
Hancock galloped through defences for a number of tries during the tournament, combining with Terrance Pedro to overwhelm opposition sides.
13. MALAKAI MARTIN (KIRWAN)
What the year 9 lock lacked in size, he made up for with intent and fitness. Martin regularly put his hand up for the tough carries and stuck his tackles in defence.
14. MILTON LARRY (IGNATIUS PARK)
Ignatius Park’s versatile excitement machine has talent in spades. Although his school had a forgettable campaign, Larry can hold his head high.
15. ZACH CARROLL (MACKAY SHS)
Carroll was a tackling machine and aggressive defender throughout the Cowboys Challenge.
The powerful prop combined with Charlie Riggs to form a strong front row and intimidate opposition offences, while still finding the try line on the opposite end.
16. BARRY BRIMELOW (KIRWAN)
Big Barry Brimelow never took a backward step, charging at defenders like a bull enraged by a red rag. He was at his best scoring two runaway tries in a 30-20 triumph over Trinity Bay in round 6.
17. TAMIANA FATIAKI (IGNATIUS PARK)
Fatiaki offered great versatility and he could excel in most positions on the field. Was one of Iggy Park’s brightest lights in a tough season.
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Originally published as Aaron Payne Cup and Cowboys Challenge Teams of the Season 2024
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