2025 Aaron Payne Cup live stream: Trinity Bay SHS v St Augustine’s College

It is the clash that both schools have had circled on the calendar for months. Trinity Bay and St Augustine’s College are putting their rivalry to the test. Watch it LIVE on Monday.

Trinity Bay, St Augustine's head-to-head rivalry clash.

It is the match both schools have had circled on the calendar for months.

Far North Queensland rivals Trinity Bay SHS and St Augustine’s College will go head-to-head in a massive Aaron Payne Cup clash on Monday.

The clash will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV as part of a double header which kicks off with the Cowboys Challenge (Year 10) clash between the two sides at 2.15pm.

While six blocks are all that separates the two proud league nurseries, it may as well be the entire city of Cairns, as both parochial supporter bases buy into the rivalry and history surrounding the contest.

Trinity Bay State High School Cowboys Challenge player Zaeden Kitching, Aaron Payne Cup player Alpha Lokotui and Schoolgirls Cup co captains Elishama Suavai and Nelly Robertson are ready to compete against North Queensland's best rugby league players after a long off season. Picture: Brendan Radke

The clash marks the first time since both sides’ introduction to the Payne Cup three years ago, that they will meet at the highest level of schoolboys league.

But that doesn’t mean they are lacking any history.

“Both schools have a strong rugby league history as the two top rugby league schools in Cairns,” Trinity Bay coach Dustin Stewart said.

“There have been a lot of battles over the years and that naturally breeds a strong competitive rivalry.

“A lot of these boys play club footy with and against each other, so it is a game they have all been looking forward to. I think both teams would’ve had this clash circled in the calendar.”

The two schools are at opposite ends of the Payne Cup totem pole this season, with St Augustine’s eyeing off an elusive finals berth with a 2-1 record to start the year, while Trinity Bay has run into stiff opposition in the form of Ignatius Park and St Patrick’s College, leaving them languishing at 0-2.

Xavier Lallemand looks towards the tryline in the Aaron Payne Cup schoolboy rugby league match between St Augustine's College and Kirwan State High School, held at West Barlow Park, Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

But Stewart said the current standings and each team’s form lines heading into the contest may as well be forgotten.

“I think results are not going to bear too much on the 60 minutes,” he said.

“We are the two teams playing at this level – naturally we want to come out on top and prove ourselves as the top school in the region. I am sure they are feeling the exact same way.

“We are really excited to get out there and play to the level that we know we are capable of. We have to be better in defence, our ruck is an area we need to solve. If we can do that we will get a lot more opportunity with the ball.”

St Augustine’s come into the contest on the back of a strong win over Mackay State High, with front rower Cooper Meares scoring a hat trick of tries.

With games against St Patrick’s College and Ignatius Park College around the corner, the Cairns nursery will be determined to pick up a crucial two points and build into a tough run to the finals.

Originally published as 2025 Aaron Payne Cup live stream: Trinity Bay SHS v St Augustine’s College