Trinity Bay State High launches rugby league academy

The alma mater of three of the NRL’s hottest young prospects has officially launched its rugby league school of excellence, and is eyeing an elite schoolboys competition.

THE alma mater of three of the NRL’s hottest young prospects has officially launched its rugby league school of excellence, and has its sights set on joining one of the state’s elite schoolboys competitions.

Trinity Bay State High School is one of the region’s rugby league nurseries, and is the former school of Cowboys sensations Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Jeremiah Nanai, as well as Raiders speedster Xavier Savage.

All three had to leave the Cairns high school - and the region - to progress their promising careers, taking their talents to either Townsville’s Kirwan State High (Nanai) or elite schools in south east Queensland (Tabuai-Fidow, Savage) where they were picked up by NRL clubs.

Trinity Bay SHS is ready to stop the drain.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

“We haven’t been able to offer that in the past,” program manager Shannon Riles said.

“But this is a pathway for kids who have previously had to move south. We want to offer that opportunity.

“They won’t have to leave their schools, their families and friends, to have these opportunities, and they will be exposed to high level tactics, training and in future be able to play in that elite high school competition.”

Jeremiah Nanai. (Photo by Dan Peled/Getty Images)

Trinity Bay State High School has plans to nominate and compete in the Aaron Payne Cup in 2023, and while the door won’t open until the end of the year, Riles is working to set up the program so it is ready for launch.

Already, the school has accepted nominations from potential program members, but Riles said that not only does he expect to drain other schools of their talented players and students, but it would not lead to overnight success either.

This is a long-term project, which could lift the standard of junior rugby league and its players across Far North Queensland into the future.

Xavier Savage of the Raiders. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

The program is open to female footballers as well, allowing girls to follow in the footsteps of Brisbane Broncos winger and recently signed North Queensland Gold Star Hagiga Mosby and Gold Stars forward Jordii Mahendrarajah.

“We have this natural nursery here, but we want to give them the opportunity,” he said.

“We’re at a point now where we have those player applications coming in. They’re mostly students we have now, we don’t expect many from other schools.”

Trinity Bay’s declaration comes after Mareeba State High School became the first from FNQ to join the Aaron Payne Cup, which will kick off later this year.

Former Northern Pride legend Chris Sheppard is spearheading Mareeba’s program.

The school will accept student nominations until the first week of May.

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Originally published as Trinity Bay State High launches rugby league academy