TASMANIA READY TO HEAD NORTH FOR 2022 SUMMER SLAM

The 2022 Summer Slam is just under three weeks away, and Tasmania’s state teams are eager to head north.

With domestic competitions lacking in 2021 due to COVID-19, and interstate travel limited, the Tasmanian state teams have been working hard in their home base to ensure they are ready to go once competition resumes.

Not only will Tasmanian players be donning the green, red and yellow togs, but a number of players have been given the opportunity to join other teams as part of the draft.

One of those is 17-year-old Amelie Cox who will be lining up for South Australia in the 18&U Women’s competition.

“I’m really looking forward to playing against people from other states again,” Cox said.

“Being from a small state, everyone knows how each other plays, especially the few of us who train together in the state squads.

“It’s going to be interesting playing against people who we don’t know or know their strengths and weaknesses. We’re going to have to adapt our usual playing style, but I think it’s going to push us to play as hard as we can, and be a physical and mental challenge,” she said.

In the months leading up to the Summer Slam, Cox and her Tasmanian team mates have been really focusing on their fitness.

“Each week we’re doing up to four swimming sessions and two ball skills sessions,” Cox said.

“Our swimming sessions are run by the swim team at one of our local pools, and they work with Water Polo Tasmania and our coaches to cater to the sets we require.

“For the skills sessions, we separate into boys and girls for half the training session to work on specifics, and then come together to play a game at the end.

“As a goalie, it’s a bit of a challenge with having men shooting at me, but I find it helps me a lot, especially with confidence, and picking up new techniques that women don’t use,” she said.

Assuming a different role, but still representing Tasmania, will be John Pankiw who is head coach of the 16&U Women’s team.

Having had to adapt training, and deal with the challenges of limited pool space, Pankiw said he and his team are equally excited that their hard work is hopefully about to pay off.

“It is good to finally have firm dates for tournaments, and something to look forward to with the Summer Slam…. it has been difficult to train and keep the girls motivated with so many competitions cancelled in the last 18 months,” Pankiw said.

“For many of my team, this will be their first exposure to a national competition, so they’re all feeling excited to finally be going away to compete.

“I just hope the girls enjoy the experience, whatever the results, and that they learn as much as possible from playing against girls of a high calibre.

“Hopefully this will help them prepare for future competitions in 2022 such as the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships which will also be in Brisbane,” he said.

The 2022 Summer Slam gets underway in Brisbane from 10-20 January.

To view the draw, and for more details - click here

Make the most of your time in Brisbane (Queensland) and check out the Summer Slam Guide to Brisbane