AUSSIE SHARKS DEBUTANTS RELISH OPPORTUNITY TO MIX IT WITH THE BEST AT TRI NATIONS WATER POLO TEST MATCH SERIES IN PERTH

At the Tri Nations Test Match Series in Perth, the Aussie Sharks welcomed eight debutants all donning the green and gold for the first time.

Playing in front of a passionate home crowd at HBF Stadium is an experience that the whole squad will not soon forget, especially the debutants who are relishing the opportunity to play international water polo for the first time.

Many kids grow up dreaming of representing their country, but for 19-year old Tristan Glanznig he didn’t think it would come true so early.

Growing up in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, Glanznig was selected as a ball boy for an Aussie Sharks exhibition match against Japan in 2015. A highlight of the day for the Cronulla junior was getting a photo with his hero George Ford.

Fast forward eight years, and Glanznig found himself pulling on the green and gold togs for the first time against Japan, alongside now dual Olympian Ford.

“When I got the opportunity to be the ball boy at Sutherland Pool, my home pool, I was super stoked,” Glanznig said. 

“It was probably the same amount of nerves before jumping in the pool for the first time on Wednesday [11 January] too. 

“Looking back at that photo, to now coming through to play with George, it was a really cool moment to share with him,” he said.

The week in Perth has been about soaking up the experience for Glanznig, and sharing it with his mum and brother.

“It’s been a really cool experience, we’ve got a really good group of boys and the environment has been really positive and I’m learning heaps,” Glanznig said.

“The older boys are definitely good to learn from, good role models but you do still have to take on the rookie duties of carrying the balls and water bottles, but it’s all part of the experience.

“Putting on the tog for the first time was incredible, it was certainly a dream come true. 

“It was even more special having my mum and brother at the game, and all my friends and family watching back at home on Kayo. It’s been awesome having so much support and debuting on home soil,” he said.

Growing up in Western Australia, Aussie Sharks goal keeper Damian Williams said it was a dream come true making his debut for the Aussie Sharks at home.

“It’s pretty cool to debut in Perth - it’s been a long time coming for me and it’s been a long journey,” Williams said. 

“Doing it at home, in Perth, in front of friends and family - you couldn’t ask for much more.

“Your whole life you dream of it, and then you finally get the opportunity, and then it happens and you’re suddenly on pool deck playing the Japanese. 

“So there was heaps of excitement, but also the nerves kicked in straight away, it’s such a big occasion,” he said.

Williams found his way into the sport at school, scouted by legend Tom Hoad and quickly finding himself in the red goalie cap.

“I got my start in water polo at a boarding school in Perth called Aquinas. I could swim and I really didn’t want to play cricket, so I ended up jumping in the pool. Then Tom Hoad scouted me, started playing for Melville and the rest is history,” Williams said.

“Tom took one look at me and said no ‘you’re too long and lanky to go in the field, go in the cage’ and I’ve been wearing the red cap ever since.

“Tom Hoad is a legend of the game, he’s done numerous Olympic Games as a coach, captain and player. Having him as a coach when you’re 12 years old at school is amazing, and then he took us through to 14s, 16s, 18s and he still hangs around now at the Melville Pool,” he said.

With less than 18 months to go, Williams has his sights firmly set on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

“Paris is definitely the ultimate dream, there would be nothing better than to play at an Olympic Games for your country,” Williams said.

“Taking on the best in the world, and working towards getting that elusive Olympic medal that the men’s program wants,” he said.

Fellow debutant Joey Parnis came from humble beginnings in South Australia’s capital Adelaide, having relocated to Sydney to pursue his water polo dreams.

Parnis said he couldn’t have dreamt of a more special start to his international water polo career.

“It’s been an amazing experience to be part of the Aussie Sharks squad here in Perth,” Parnis said.

“This is my first time playing international water polo so that’s been great. Perth has been fantastic, the weather has been hot and sunny…we’ve had such a great time here.

“Japan is a really tough opposition, they play quite a unique style. It was interesting for us debutants who wouldn’t have played against that style very often to play against the Japanese style,” he said.

For any Australian debutant, putting on the green and gold for the first time is always a memorable experience, and for Parnis it was no different.

“It was an amazing experience when I found out that I would be debuting for Australia,” Parnis said. 

“It’s obviously a lot of hard work, as well as a lot of time and effort that’s been put into it along quite a long journey. It was quite special making my debut in front of a home crowd, it’s a pretty rare thing to be able to do.

“It’s been a long road to get here from South Australia but I was always hoping that this would be where I end up,” he said.

New South Wales’ Laurence Barker also made his debut for the Aussie Sharks this week, an experience he won’t forget any time soon.

In late 2022, Barker was still playing junior water polo for NSW at the National State Championships. After the competition, he was named in the Australian Junior Men’s squad, and shortly after received the call from Australian Men’s Head Coach Tim Hamill that he was going to be named in the squad for the Tri Nations Water Polo Test Match Series.

“To be honest, it was quite a shock. There’s a lot of great goalkeepers in Australia, but I’m super thankful to Tim that he has given this opportunity to me and I want to make the most of it,” Barker said.

“Being here in Perth, and experiencing international men’s water polo for the first time, it’s a whole other level of competition and I’m just really enjoying it.

“I’ve come up through the age groups, had some great coaches and great boys to play with along the way, and the journey is a super important one and you need to enjoy it all the way, so I’m just trying to enjoy myself here in Perth too,” he said.

As one of the younger members of the squad, Barker said that while Paris 2024 and LA 2028 remain a goal, the ultimate dream would be to play at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

“Only a few people can say they’ve played at an Olympic Games in front of a home crowd,” Barker said.

“It would be a super special experience if I was there in Brisbane 2032,” he said.