UNSW WESTS MAGPIES AND GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY QLD THUNDER TAKE OUT 2023 KAP7 CUP

Published Mon 27 Feb 2023

Reigning Australian Waterpolo League (AWL) champions UNSW Wests Magpies (men) and Griffith University Queensland Thunder (women) have made an early mark on the 2023 AWL competition taking out the KAP7 Cup.

The 2023 season introduced a new format, with teams battling it out in the KAP7 Cup, before moving into the Championship or Challenge rounds in phase two.

Griffith University Queensland Thunder women managed to maintain their unbeaten streak, claiming nine from nine wins in the first phase of the competition.

Thunder co-captain Tenealle Fasala said the KAP7 Cup title will give her team a good confidence boost as they head into the home and away rounds.

“We are all very excited to go undefeated so far… it’s a real accomplishment and one we are really proud of. We have few players overseas so to know we can do it without them here, it’s been positive.

“It hasn't been an easy run for us though, coming up against some really tough teams. We have worked on our consistency, not just in our games but between games.

“Our team still has quite a number of new players so we are trying to work on our connections as a team. I think we still have some room to improve those connections and hopefully when we do that, it means we can go all the way [to the AWL Finals].

“While it would be great to finish the season undefeated, we really are going to be focused on taking it one training session, one game at a time,” she said.

Griffith University Queensland Thunder Women’s side have made a name for themselves since first arriving on the AWL scene, winning the title in their debut season. Since then, Fasala said they they know they have a target on their back but it's not something that they shy away from.

“I feel the first year of Thunder, there was no pressure and we just had fun and thankfully we went all the way. Every year we get better and we continue to be at the top, but with that comes a target on your back and more pressure.

“Our Coach Ben [Lees] helps us to make sure we don’t get in our head, we are not too focused on the pressure and just have fun. We all love water polo at the end of the day so we just have to focus on that.

In the women’s Championship division, Queensland Thunder will be joined by Fremantle Marlins, UWA Torpedoes, Sydney Uni Lions, ACU Cronulla Sharks and UTS Balmain Tigers.

Despite dropping two games in the KAP7 Cup, UNSW Wests Magpies men finished atop of the table ahead of Sydney Uni Lions in second and Drummoyne Devils in third.

UNSW captain Michael de Gail said his team will be looking to add a ninth premiership title to the clubs trophy cabinet, and winning the KAP7 Cup puts them in good stead ahead of the home and away rounds.

“It’s been a successful first stage of the tournament. A different structure this year…we’ve had a few road trips in there which has been great,” said de Gail.

“We have a good bunch of our team from last year playing in Europe, but we have been lucky to have a couple of imports, a couple of successful club members like Richie [Campbell] come back as well as some great young talent coming through, which has put us in a good position.

“It’s another tough competition, I really think any of the top six teams can win it [AWL Championship.

“Sydney Uni and Drummoyne are two to watch… we’ve had a close relationship over the years and fought in finals a few times now. I think both teams have great depth and talent which will create a real spectacle,” he said.

There is no denying UNSW West Magpies consistency in the men’s AWL tournament over such a long period of time, and de Gail said there are a few reasons for that.

“Culture is at the top, we have a strong one in our club. It’s a tight knit playing group and even if during the season we might lose a few guys, we have the fundamentals in how we play right.

“We have also benefited from having a strong playing group. We have guys who are playing at the elite level, guys who have been around the club a long time and are coming through [the ranks] and guys who continue to play simply because they enjoy it.

“But also the success comes down to our coaching staff. We have an experienced and motivated coach in Nitty [Andrew Yanitsas] who is also good friend to everyone and manages people really well. It’s a big contributing factor,” he said.

The remaining Championship division places in the men’s will be taken up by UWA Torpedoes, ACU Cronulla Sharks and UTS Balmain Tigers.

After the KAP7 Cup, the top six sides are through to the Championships phase while those that fell outside the top six, will play in the Southern Cross Challenge.

The draw for the home and away rounds in both the Championship and Southern Cross Challenge will be determined in the coming days.