A brave first-half performance gave way to a second-half points avalanche as Kirwan’s big-time experience proved too much for Trinity Bay. Relive the action from the Payne Cup, Cowboys Challenge games.
Classy five-eighth Logan Deininger scored a hat-trick as the Bears kicked off their 2023 campaign with a 36-6 win at Trinity Bay SHS.
Deininger was immense, using his flashy footwork and pace off the mark to run rings around Trinity Bay’s defenders as he helped himself to the first hat trick of the season.
Cameron Nelson wrote himself into the history books as the first footballer to score a try for Trinity Bay in their inaugural Payne Cup campaign when he crossed in the first half to make it 12-6, which it remained at the break.
Lock Loranzo Fono bagged a double, while Kanye Pua’avase also scored.
But Kirwan, who won the national NRL schoolboys cup title in 2019, ran away with it in the second half, scoring four tries to none to close out a healthy win to start the campaign.
It made it two wins from as many games after Kirwan won the Cowboys Challenge clash 26-6.
Catch the Payne Cup replay (above) and Cowboys Challenge replay (below).
REPLAY
Cowboys Challenge Round 1 – Trinity Bay SHS v Kirwan SHS
Watch a full replay as Trinity Bay vs Kirwan.
PREVIEW
Trinity Bay will channel the Maroons’ Origin underdog spirit when they face one of the toughest challenges in their Payne Cup debut.
And coach Dan Weston wouldn’t have it any other way.
Trinity Bay is one of two new FNQ schools in the elite schoolboys rugby league competition this year, and have walked straight into the top pool – and a season-opening date with the former national champion Kirwan Bears.
LOOKING FOR ANOTHER GAME? Check the full Queensland schoolboys schedule below and follow the links to our live streams
The double-header, which kicks off with a Cowboys Challenge (Year 10) clash between the two sides at 9.25am, will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV as part of our season-long coverage of the best Queensland schoolboys league competitions.
Ben Nomani from Trinity bay High School breaks away from tSt Augustine players. Picture: Nuno Avendano
It will be a task as tough as they come for the Payne Cup newcomers but Weston said his team were excited and ready to rip in.
“It’s going to be an exciting moment for the school, it’s the first time we’ve ever played at this level,” Weston said.
“Kirwan is a school which has been playing at this level for a long time so it’s going to be tough. We know we’re massive underdogs on Tuesday but our boys can’t wait.”
Trinity Bay won the NRL Schoolboys Trophy in 2022, the tier below the Phil Hall Cup, and they enter this inaugural Payne Cup campaign with long-term success as a key goal.
The team will boast the likes of Tully A-grader Cameron Nelson and rising gun Davidson Benioni, while co-captain Brayden Worsley is tipped for a good campaign.
Kirwan State High playmaker Preston Cassidy.
Trinity Bay speedster Davidson Benioni.
Trinity Bay will host the Bears at the school and will be keen to compete with the established nursery which put the finishing touches on former Trinity Bay student Jeremiah Nanai, who went on to play Origin for the Maroons and represent Australia.
But for Weston, it’s about laying the foundation for the long-term success.
“We’ve just spent a lot of time working on the basic principles of play,” Weston said.
“We have performance indicators in mind which are more important than the result; the rest will take care of itself.
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