2025 Aaron Payne Cup live stream: St Augustine’s College v Holy Spirit College

An opening-minute try has helped St Augustine’s blitz their Mackay opponents in a dominant victory to kick off the new Aaron Payne Cup campaign. Watch the full match REPLAY.

It has taken just 30 seconds for St Augustine’s College to pick up right where it left off in Pool B of the Aaron Payne Cup.

The Cairns school opened its 2025 account by thrashing Holy Spirit College in a 64-6 whitewash on Tuesday, set up by a long-range Ben Walker try in the opening minute.

In the second play of the game, the five-eighth set the tone for the match by racing down the short side and streaking away to score a great solo try.

The Payne Cup clash was live streamed exclusively on KommunityTV from Townsville. Watch the full replay above.

Ben Walker (right) scored a hat-trick in St Augustine’s big win over Holy Spirit. Picture: Brendan Radke

Walker was fantastic in the Saints halves alongside Lucas Russell, while barnstorming forwards Cooper Meares and Zavier Suluvale-Liumaunu were devastating with the ball in hand and when crunching ballrunners.

Holy Spirit’s big-bodied fullback Jack Goodale was one of his side’s best in attack and defence, contesting every play he could with the weight of territory and possession against him.

The Mackay school finally hit the scoreboard with five minutes to play when Brodie Garnham crashed over from close range to get his team off the mark.

St Augustine’s coach Kris O’Farrell said he was pleased with the way his team warmed into the clash.

“We thought things would open up for us if we were patient, I think it just took us a bit of time to find that patience and continuity,” O’Farrell said.

“I liked the way that we finished, particularly with our good combinations and our sets.

“Cayde (Miller) and Cooper Mears are a one-two punch and I thought young Ash Summers did a good job at No.9 too.”

Holy Spirit coach John Venz said he was proud of his boys for showing up and playing hard against their much-fancied opponents.

“Our focus in these games is building our confidence and building the boys with their individual play, coming together as a team and using this as a good stepping stone for Confro” Venz said.

“They’re a fast team, we just had to get into that grind and that grit and once we got out of that washing machine, we started playing a bit of footy.

“But we can’t live in our deep end. We’ve got to get out of the deep end, get in the shallow end and play some good footy.”

Holy Spirit worked into the contest after their nightmare start with some good defensive efforts before elusive winger Elijah Williamson zigzagged past his defender and raced into the backfield, beating fullback Goodale on the outside with his speed.

A failed clearance kick minutes later resulted in St Augustine’s other winger Bereket Linnehan running in a try untouched after it took a deflection – and from there the rout was on.

Holy Spirit gave the Saints a chance to attack from a midfield scrum after a third consecutive error and Zavier Suluvale-Liumaunu burst through the line as if he was shot from a cannon, brushing the defenders aside like saloon doors on his way to the try-line.

Walker scored his second try just before the break and St Augustine’s went on with the stampede in the second half, scoring six more tries including the Saints skipper completing his hat-trick.

ST AUGUSTINE’S: 64 (Ben Walker (3), Elijah Williamson, Bereket Linnehan, Zavier Suluvale-Liumaunu (2), Jaic Morris (2), Xavier Lallemand, Riley Wells (2) tries; Lucas Russell (6), Ben Walker (2) goals)

HOLY SPIRIT: 6 (Brodie Garnham try, Jack Goodale goal)

PREVIEW

St Augustine’s College will look to convert pool match dominance into a deeper finals run heading into a new Aaron Payne Cup campaign.

The Cairns school has the honours of opening up the new season when it clashes with Holy Spirit College on Wednesday at Brothers Townsville.

KommunityTV will broadcast the clash live and exclusive from 11.15am as part of season-long coverage of every match from both the NRL National Schoolboy and Schoolgirl Cups.

The Saints were undefeated through their home and away season last year, conceding just six points for the entirety of the pool matches.

However their run ended with a semi-final exit when they were outclassed by Kirwan State High School, going down 38-10.

Prop and on-field leader Cayde Miller, who was a part of last year’s side, said the entire squad was eager to get the season started on a positive note when they take on Holy Spirit.

“We’re excited to get into the season,” Miller said.

“It’s been a tough pre-season, but we’ve got through it and now it’s time to get on to the fun part of the season.”

Having moved to St Augustine’s for his last two years of schooling, this will be Miller’s second year donning the Saints colours.

“I’ve enjoyed my time playing here,” he said.

“It’s very professional and the boys here always put in a solid effort for one another.

“I think we want to show people that you can be a part of a successful team here in Cairns, you don’t have to move away to achieve something.”

Saints coach Kris O’Farrell said while the boys will have some cobwebs to blow out, he’s expecting them to hit the ground running.

“No doubt it’ll be a little bit clunky, given we haven’t had a trial,” O’Farrell said.

“But the squad has trained well in its positions and combinations.

“We’re aiming for a disciplined performance from a group that plays with one another in the cerise and blue.”

The Payne Cup clash between St Augustine’s and Holy Spirit College will get underway at 11.15am.

It is one of three opening round fixtures live on KommunityTV followed by Kirwan SHS taking on St Patrick’s College and Trinity Bay facing Ignatius Park College, both on Thursday.

Originally published as 2025 Aaron Payne Cup live stream: St Augustine’s College v Holy Spirit College