2025 Aaron Payne Cup live stream: Kirwan SHS v Mackay SHS, Round 6

Kirwan State High have maintained their stranglehold on top spot in the Payne Cup with a 60-point demolition of Mackay State High. Watch the REPLAYS.

The Kirwan Bears were unstoppable during a 62-0 obliteration of Mackay State High School, seemingly scoring at will during the 12-try rout.

Kirwan threatened to blow their hapless opponents off the park during a nine-try first half, however Mackay came out of the sheds with a dogged determination to improve their defence.

The hosts were much better after halftime, holding the Bears to three tries in the second half-hour – including a four-pointer by Jack Miller in the final play of the game.

WATCH THE FULL MATCH REPLAY IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

Kirwan’s right-edge attack was unrelenting as co-captain Riley Carbone tore Mackay to shreds with his footwork, speed and kicking game.

Left centre Harmon Benioni opened the scoring during Kirwan’s first possession, collecting a sweet pass from Manua Dau and brushing aside two defenders to crash over the line.

The speedy outside back was in for his second try a minute later after Bears co-captain Eneliko Savelio broke the line from the ensuing kick-off return, and suddenly the demolition was on.

Rising year 10 young gun Malakai Martin made his Aaron Payne Cup debut, backing up from captaining Kirwan to a 68-0 win in the Cowboys Challenge.

The rangy lock made an instant impact, throwing a late offload to Ezekiel Ruaporo for the backrower to score his second try.

Kirwan carried a 44-0 lead into halftime, however Mackay did just enough to keep themselves out of the history books with much-improved defence after the break.

It took more than 10 minutes for the Bears to finally crack the defence to score their 10th try of the contest, before another 15-minute period of great defence to keep the Bears at bay.

Carbone’s uncharacteristically poor goalkicking, missing five of his fist seven attempts before making his next five, was one of Mackay’s saving graces.

MACKAY 0 DEF BY KIRWAN 62 (Harmon Benioni (2), Kees Anderson (2), Clarvarn Oth (2), Ezekiel Ruaporo (2), Gausa Dau, TJ Tanoai, Riley Carbone, Jack Miller tries; Riley Carbone (7) goals)

Cowboys Challenge

Kirwan State High fullback Travel Ngatuakana and halfback Jack Goodhew masterminded a 12-try demolition of Mackay State High in the Cowboys Challenge.

While Goodhew steered the ship from first receiver, Ngatuakana had a field day out the back, with Mackay offering the speedster too much room to move around Shark Park.

Kirwan SHS v Mackay SHS (Cowboys Challenge)

While he didn’t score a try of his own, the classy fullback had a direct hand in at least a third of Kirwan’s tries in the 68-0 win over Mackay State High.

Ngatuakana’s combination with the Cubs right edge was particularly potent as he linked with Elisala Dau on a number of occasions to set up a hat trick for Will Price.

Dau also crossed for a try of his own in a dominant first half performance.

By the end of the contest, Kirwan were running in tries for fun, with the Mackay defence showing more holes than a slice of Jarlsberg.

PREVIEW

The Kirwan Bears will draw on the school’s proud indigenous culture as they pull on specially designed NAIDOC-inspired jerseys for their Aaron Payne Cup clash this week.

The undefeated Bears travel south to take on a Mackay State High side determined to cause a boilover and earn its way into the Payne Cup play-offs.

Watch the Cowboys Challenge and Aaron Payne Cup live and exclusive from 10.30am on KommunityTV, available with your subscription to this masthead.

Kirwan unveiled its indigenous jerseys at a special presentation earlier this week, with a group of the school’s cultural dancers putting on a powerful performance in front of the school community.

Bears backrower Ezekiel Saylor-Pau said the team had been impressed with the design created by local artist Chris Gray.

Saylor-Pau’s family traces back to the Torres Strait Islands on both sides, mainly from Erub Island (also known as Darnley Island), and he said it was a proud moment representing his family.

Kirwan High rugby league players, Latayah Homer, Nylani Nanai, Brodie Motto and Ezekiel Saylor-Pau, unveil NAIDOC jerseys for the Aaron Payne Cup Picture: Shae Beplate.

“I’m really excited for the game, just for the opportunity to wear the jersey,” he said.

“It’s a really good design and it’s good to have the same concept as last year.”

Kirwan's Kees Anderson looks for a gap during last week’s clash against Trinity Bay. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Bears conceded two tries from dummy half in Round 5 after coach Todd Wilson identified ruck defence as a priority in the lead-up to the game.

“That’s what they call a coach-killer. They pretty much killed Toddy (Wilson) in our game against Trinity Bay last week, so we’re definitely going to try and fix that up this week,” Saylor-Pau said.

“I feel like we’ve been preparing well. We had a good preparation this morning, and we definitely did some review on our game against T-Bay – there was a lot of stuff we can fix up there.

“We’re definitely not going to take this game lightly. We’re going to treat them as any other opposition.”

The Kirwan Grizzlies will also play against Mackay State High this week in a non-competitive friendly match. The game will not be live streamed.

Grizzlies captain Nylani Namai has Aboriginal heritage from Cape York’s Mapoon and Injinoo tribes, and Torres Strait Islander heritage from Badu Island.

Kirwan High Dance group (L-R), Leon Williams-Orcher, Mannix Daisy, Xavier Broome, Iggie Kepa, Zech Alfred and Benjamin Blanco with rugby league players in the middle (L-R) wearing NAIDOC jerseys, Nylani Nanai, Latayah Homer, Ezekiel Saylor-Pau and Brodie Motto. Picture: Shae Beplate.

She said it was important for the school to recognise and pay respect to its many cultures within the student group.

“It’s definitely different, and I love the topic of NAIDOC Week itself,” Namai said.

“I just love how we brought it out, and it’s everything we asked for.”

The workhorse middle forward said the team was looking continuing to develop as it marches towards finals.

“It just gets more exciting every week. All of the girls, our preparation gets better every week so it’s really exciting,” Namai said.

“Every game we’ve got new tricks, new plays, and it’s all coming together. Our coach Matty (Bowen), he’s growing with us as a team as well.”

Originally published as 2025 Aaron Payne Cup live stream: Kirwan SHS v Mackay SHS, Round 6