With the female event won and done, attention now turns to the 15&U and 17&U Male National State Championships which gets underway in Melbourne on Thursday 29 September.
The best water polo athletes from around the country will come together at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre for the four day competition, with the title of national champions up for grabs.
For many athletes, it will be their first taste of state representation, with the event also doubling as a selection event for the Australian Cadet and Youth squads.
Watch live – sign up www.kommunitytv.com.au
2004 Olympian and Queensland Maroon 17&U Head Coach Aleksandr Osadchuk said his team are looking forward to getting back into competition after a solid training block.
“We are all really looking forward to the National State Championships, it has been some time since we’ve had a competition like this,” Osadchuk said.
“The athletes and the coaches are looking forward to having a good time and enjoying healthy competition in the water polo pool.
“As always, it’s also a great opportunity to meet our interstate colleagues, and celebrate playing, in my opinion, one of the best sports in the world,” he said.
Osadchuk said there’s nothing quite like the state versus state rivalry, but he thinks his team will be their biggest competition.
“I think our biggest rival is our own belief to perform at this level,” Osadchuk said.
“However, I think all the other states will definitely be ready to showcase some great water polo action.
“Ever game will present a new challenge, and we’re looking forward to the competition,” he said.
Making the trip south from Canberra, ACT 15&U Head Coach Mark Nicholson said his team are looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.
“The team is very keen to be heading to the National State Championships in Melbourne,” Nicholson said.
“The boys are very keen to get back to playing at such a high level and against some great water polo teams from other states.
“Every game is going to be tough, there are no easy teams at the National State Championships,” he siad.
Despite some cold winter mornings, Nicholson said he’s proud of the effort his team have put into training to prepare for the event.
“Early mornings anywhere aren’t fun, but in Canberra it can be terrible at 5am,” Nicholson said.
“But we have had a solid lead in since the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships and other competitions, so it feels like we have been aiming for this for a long time.
“The boys also had a great opportunity to train under Aussie Sharks Head Coach Tim Hamill earlier this year at the Canberra Water Polo camp which was a great experience,” he said.
As the host state, Victorian 15&U assistant coach Ben Adams said they are looking forward to welcoming their interstate rivals to their home.
“I think being so close to the pool will hopefully give our boys a home ground advantage,” Adams said.
“The team is feeling really excited and prepared for the tournament, with a passion to play well at a higher level.
“Training has been going well and improving by the session – training at a high intensity has increased the boys fitness and motivation to play well at the National State Championships,” he said.
The 2022 15&U and 17&U Men’s National State Championships gets underway in Melbourne from Thursday 29 September to Sunday 2 October.
Watch live – sign up www.kommunitytv.com.au
Kommunity TV Broadcast Schedule
Thursday 29 September
9AM | 15&U Boys | NSW Blues QLD Gold
10AM | 15&U Boys | Victoria Navy ACT
11AM | 15&U Boys | QLD Maroon Tasmania
12PM | 15&U Boys | WA Gold NSW Waratahs
1PM | 15&U Boys | ACT NSW Blues
2PM | 15&U Boys | WA Black QLD Gold
3PM | 15&U Boys | NSW Waratahs QLD Maroon
4PM | 15&U Boys | South Australia Tasmania
Friday 30 September
8AM | 17&U Boys | South Australia ACT/TAS
9:10AM | 17&U Boys | NSW Waratahs QLD Maroon
10:20AM | 17&U Boys | Barbarians Blue QLD Gold
11:30AM | 17&U Boys | Boys NSW Blue WA Gold
12:40PM | 17&U Boys | Boys WA Black QLD Maroon
1:50PM | 17&U Boys | Boys South Australia NSW Waratahs
2:PM | 17&U Boys | Boys Victoria Silver WA Gold
4:10 PM | 17&U Boys | Boys Barbarians Blue NSW Blues
Saturday 1 October
8AM | 15&U Boys | Boys Victoria Navy WA Black
9AM | 15&U Boys | Boys ACT QLD Gold
10AM | 17&U Boys | Boys WA Gold Barbarians Blue
11:10AM | 17&U Boys | Boys QLD Gold Victoria Silver
12:20PM | 15&U Boys | Boys 1St Pool A 2nd Pool B
1:20PM | 15&U Boys | Boys 1St Pool B 2nd Pool A
3:30PM | 17&U Boys | Boys 1St Pool B 2nd Pool A
4:20PM | 17&U Boys | Boys 1St Pool A 2nd Pool B
Sunday 2 October
9:30AM | 15&U Boys | Boys Loser SF1 Loser SF 2
10:30AM | 15&U Boys | Boys Winner SF1 Winner SF2
12PM | 17&U Boys | Boys Loser SF1 Loser SF 2
1:10PM | 17&U Boys | Boys Winner SF1 Winner SF2
