Dolphins Cup v Payne Cup winners live stream: St Pat’s Mackay take on Emmaus College

St Pat’s Mackay are making stunning progress - and they are determined to take the next step into the elite. Catch their playoff clash with Emmaus College LIVE on Wednesday at 1.30pm.

Peaking at the right time is a necessity for all successful sporting teams.

St Patrick’s College is doing just that, producing a stunningly ruthless 32-10 Payne Cup final domination of Kirwan State High last Wednesday.

They will be looking to replicate that performance when they face Emmaus College in this Wednesday’s Dolphins Cup v Payne Cup winners clash, with the victor afforded the opportunity to play off for the Queensland Schoolboys title.

Catch the game LIVE from Mackay JRL on KommunityTV at 1.30pm. Check out the full QSSRL finals week live schedule details.

“We saved our best performance for that Kirwan team, we saved it for that week,” St Pat’s coach Ian Schifilliti said.

“We managed to keep the ball off a really big Kirwan pack for the first eight minutes of that game, in that time we completed at 90 per cent.

WHY EMMAUS ARE SO DANGEROUS WHEN GAME IS ON THE LINE

“We talked about wanting to do that, especially against a really physical Kirwan pack, that gave us the ascendancy to really go on with it and win that one.”

Kane Smith in action against Ignatius Park College. Pic: Michaela Harlow

Three St Pat’s forwards in particular, caught Schifilliti’s eye.

“Cohen Jackson, Kayne Smith and Tyler Shandiman were excellent, just really working hard on those big guys defensively,” he said.

“I thought our outside backs, in particular Hayden Cumming, did a really good job for us, too.”

Jackson is contracted to the Broncos, while Smith is contracted to the Cowboys, as is the potent combination of halfback Jaxon Purdue and hooker Xavier Kerrisk, who controlled the match, as per usual.

Purdue and Storm-contracted Bailey Anderson both crossed for doubles.

All up, St Pat’s had seven NRL contracted players, with six featuring last Wednesday, while Kirwan had 13.

Schifilliti believes it demonstrates a discrepancy in recruiting that could be about to change.

Will Whippy, Ian Schifilliti and Xavier Kerrisk. Pic: Michaela Harlow.

“I think it highlights the talent we’ve got down in Mackay,” he said.

“Looking forward, there’s a pathway here to do well, and those institutes, after this result, will have an eye on this region for developing talent and going into professional clubs.”

“We’re competing with (Kirwan and Ignatius Park) programs that probably aren’t… Townsville based, not to cast aspersions, but they’re not all Townsville kids, they’re from Cairns, they’re from elsewhere.

“These are all Mercy (College) kids that have come through our program… Mackay has come up with five (contracted players) and beaten a team with kids from all over the place.

“It’s an absolute testament to Mackay and what they’re doing with junior rugby league out here.”

With Rockhampton’s Emmaus College his side’s next opponent, Schifilliti is brimming with confidence, and will be looking to build on the Kirwan performance.

“If we do that again, there’s no reason why we can’t have similar success,” Schifilliti said.

Emmaus College forward Jack O'Neil.

St Pat’s have met Emmaus once this season, in the Confraternity Shield, losing a tight affair 10-4. That was without Purdue and Kerrisk spearheading the St Pat’s attack, however.

“Our defence was excellent at Confraternity, we just had trouble with our attack, I believe with Jaxon (Purdue) and Xavier (Kerrisk) back, we’re a different attacking team,” Schifilliti said.

“It’ll be a cracking game. One that we feel, if we play to our strengths and are good enough looking after the ball, we’ll definitely win.

“How we control the football, what we do with it and being able to work with each other in the effort areas we talk about… (if) we get that right, we feel like we can compete with anyone across Queensland.”

In Schifilliti’s eyes, the motivation behind St Pat’s successes stretches beyond merely winning games, although victory over Emmaus would be yet another step in the right direction.

“The proof’s in the pudding, that’s kind of our driving factor, we belong on the map of Queensland schools,” he said.

“No longer will it just be a Kirwan and an Iggy focus, we’re on the map and we’re here to stay.”