Top league nursery elevates game plan
SCHOOLS in Far North Queensland have a rich history of local, national and international sporting success.
We’ve looked at the historic success of schools, their future pathways and rising stars to rank our top sporting schools in FNQ.
TRINITY BAY STATE HIGH SCHOOL
Arguably FNQ’s top league nursery, Trinity Bay boasts plenty of current and former NRL guns.
This includes Cowboy second-rower Jeremiah Nanai and fullback Hamiso TabuaiFidow, as well as Raiders winger Xavier Savage.
Former Roosters player Bernard Lewis and ex-Cowboy Gideon Gela-Mosby also once graced the halls of Trinity Bay. Both are currently contracted with the Pride.
The school has also produced rising league stars – Broncos winger Hagiga Mosby and Jordii Mahendrarajah (NQ Gold Stars).
Broncos greats Gavin Allen, Justin Hodges as well as Cowboys winger Ashley Graham also fuel Trinity Bay’s rich tapestry of former talents.
Naturally, the league nursery’s trophy shelf is lined with plenty of silverware from Cairns competitions.
Trinity Bay has won three of the last four under-18 boys comps in Cairns, and took out the NRL Schoolboy Trophy against Bundaberg SHS in 2019.
In 2021, the school was named Karyn Murphy Cup district champions, but were unable to compete in the NQ finals due to Covid.
Rising stars among the Trinity Bay ranks are under-18 players Liam O’Brien, Ma’Taeo Benioni as well as under-15 guns Taakoi Benioni, Elsiyah Suavai-Laumatia, sister Elishama Suavai and Xavier Savage’s sister Gabby.
Given the plethora of players at Trinity Bay, it’s naturally been drawn upon as a feeder to many southern institutes with larger league programs and connections.
However, the school has recently announced the launching of its own school of excellence to keep talents at home in FNQ.
The long-term project has already started to get the wheels turning where nominations are concerned.
The unisex academy will help bolster the school’s goal to join the Aaron Payne Cup in 2023.