OVO AWL | UNSW and Queensland Thunder headline round 2

Published Thu 07 Feb 2019

After an entertaining opening round across Australia, eight teams will compete in round two of the OVO Australian Waterpolo League, with a UNSW Wests and Queensland Thunder showdown taking centre stage on OVO Play this Saturday.

Both teams have already faced off this season with the Queensland Thunder women claiming a narrow 9-8 win, while UNSW Wests Magpies grabbed a comfortable 12-7 victory.

UNSW Wests Killer Whales began their quest for back to back titles with a strong 13-9 performance last weekend and co-captain Daisy Carter says her side knows they have a target on their back.

“We’ve been a feel good story and improving over the last couple years, but now people will be trying really hard to knock us off. Our coach (Tim Hamill) has emphasised we can’t be complacent, we have to be better not the same.

"Being part of such a big historic moment for the Club last year, having that core group back and realising how amazing that experience was last year makes us want to do it all over again,” said Carter.

Facing a Queensland team stacked with up and coming talent led by their formidable co-captains of Bronwen Knox and Kate Gynther with five Olympic Games between them, Carter is expecting a hard encounter on Saturday.

“We know every single game this season will be hard and we know this one won’t be any different.

“Starting strong is a really big focus for us. So hopefully we can repeat our strong start from last weekend.

“Bron (Knox) in centre forward will be tough and Kate (Gynther) is an amazing player all-rounder so we will certainly have a strong focus on those two,” she said.

Speaking on their 2019 recruits, Carter welcomed back former Killer Whale and Aussie Stingers player Amy Ridge, as well as new American recruits Kayla Casas (Arizona State University) and Allie Loomis (University of California Irvine).

“Amy knows what it is like at the Club and has amazing skills. She’s a big goal scorer and such a threat whenever she’s in the water.

“Allie had a good season in America and Kayla brings calmness to our team which is great because we can get quite heated in the pool. All three are also just great girls outside the pool,” she said.

Following the women’s match, the UNSW Wests Magpies and Queensland Thunder men will take to the pool with triple Olympian Rhys Howden looking to lead Queensland from the front.

“It was good to get the first win last weekend but we know we have lots of room for improvement.

“Obviously being a new team together it takes a little bit of time to gel together, we’re still working out how people play,” he said.

With over 200 international caps to his name Howden will be urging his players to execute their basic skills as fatigue sets in during their fifth match in as many days as part of their Sydney road trip.

“When you’re tired and things don’t go your way you might think you have to do something different, but it is about doing the simple things right.

“Our players just need to know their role and play their role, if everyone can do that as a team with our tactics it will all come together and results will take care of themselves,” he said.

Howden is excited to see the young Thunder talent go up against a strong UNSW side scattered with Aussie Sharks as well as Canadian international Nicolas Bicari.

“Reilly Townsend got his first Aussie Sharks cap in Brisbane against Japan and as an Australian Born 2000 player he’s one to watch in our team.

“He’s got great skills and speed and over time hopefully he’ll be a regular in that national team,” said Howden.

Facing a formidable opponent in UNSW Wests Magpies with so many Australian and international players, Howden and Thunder will be focused on Head Coach Dimtry Gorshkov’s key message after round one.

“We need to fix up our defence, we weren’t quite happy with how we went against Hunter especially in the second game.

“Everybody is beatable on their day, we know everybody will have to be firing on Saturday because they will be a hard team to beat for the title,” he said.

In other matches UWA have hit the water for the first time in 2019 starting with a six-game road trip to Sydney where they will square off with ACU Cronulla Sharks, Drummoyne Devils and Sydney University Lions.

Then the Hunter Hurricanes will play at home for the first time this season when they welcome UTS Balmain Tigers to Lambton pool.