AWL livestream today featured new era as rookie Taoso makes Thunder debut

The Queensland Thunder and Hunter Hurricanes have clashed in women’s and men’s competitions of the Australian Water Polo League. WATCH THE REPLAYS

Queensland Thunder ushered in a new era of player today when rookie Taafili Taoso made her AWL debut, and teenager Lulu Elliott played her first match of the AWL season against Hunter Hurricanes.

The match was part of the Australian Water Polo League which is being livestreamed by News Corp.

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DELFINA WATER POLO REPLAYS HERE

Taoso and Elliott are both Mermaids’ juniors and both Brisbane State High School products.

The girls were eased into the big league against a willing Hurricanes outfit, inspired by Belle Humby’s 100th AWL match, who fought hard against their unbeaten rivals. Queensland won the women’s clash 21-4.

Taoso scored a second quarter goal as Queensland established a 7-2 advantage over their rivals in the first half, then Elliott returned to the pool in the fourth quarter to also.

It would not have surprised if a passing astronaut had glimpsed Elliott’s beaming smile, so delighted she was to get on the score sheet in Thunder’s win.

Elliott then added a second goal late in the fourth quarter.

Taafili Taoso and Lulue Elliott after today's game.

Elliott, 17, was playing her first game of the season after a debut in 2020, while Taoso, 16, who still attends school, was on debut.

The victory maintained the Thunder women’s unbeaten start to the season.

Elliott said Taoso, a year 11 student, did very well on debut.

“She went really well,’’ Elliott said. “We have been training in a really good environment and she has stepped up.

“After that goal everyone could see her confidence.’’

LuLu Elliott, left, Gabi Palm and Taafili Taoso.

Elliott said it had been a while between her debut and her next match, so it was nice to get another game for Thunder under her belt.

“I got more confident as the game went on and the girls encouraged me,’’ Elliott said.

Big guns, captain Matilda Moore, Olympian Abby Andrews and Australian squad member Alice Williams were sublime in the third and fourth quarters as Thunder pulled away from their rivals.

LuLu Elliott scored two goals in her return to the Thunder side.

The match finished with another rising star, Charlize Andrews, scoring for Thunder.

Hunter dug deep. The side was coming off a 19-1 loss the night before and clearly tried hard, woth Ashlee Dobell scoring a couple of nice goals.

Hunter coach Renae Burdack said his young side fought really well against bigger, better rivals.

“We are babies compared to the power of the Queensland team but we fought really hard,’’ he said.

“We knew we were not going to win the game, which is difficult as a coach and as a player, but we went in with set goals, things we are trying to achieve, and the girls tried that. They fought really, really hard.’’

He said captain Humby was fantastic in her milestone match. “She was just tireless in her efforts, and I am really proud of her.’’

Action from the Thunder v Hunter clash.

The Men

A relieved Queensland Thunder wriggled its way to a 12-7 victory over Hurricanes this afternoon.

Coming off a gripping 10-9 victory the night before, the match looked set for another thriller as Hunter closed to trail 6-5 at halftime.

Thunder had to work hard, very hard, but a burst of goals in the third quarter was enough to separate the teams.

But much to the delight of Thunder coach Aleksandr Osadchuk, the young - Jack Fodor - and the old - Billy Miller - scored and Queensland were ahead by 9-5 in the third quarter, the biggest margin of the match. Queensland’s Reilly Townsend then added his team’s 10th goal.

Queensland Thunder's Anthony Martin prepares to pass.

Hurricanes coach Daniel Marsden, the former Australian champion, said the two games against Thunder was a learning experience for his young side.

“It was a great experience for our guys to play against brilliant players like Billy Miller, Rhys Howden who are smart, understand the game and do the right things at the right time. And our guys can really learn from that,’’ Marsden said.

“In a few years time, given you guys are super young, we will be closer to that sort of level.’’

Earlier, the teams traded three goals apiece in the oening quarter, with Jacob Findlay (twice) and Keenan Marsden scoring for Hunter, while Anthony Martin, Daniel Hansen and Rhys Howden got on the score sheet for Queensland Thunder.

A second Hansen goal then two in quick succession from Dylan McDonald pinged Thunder to a 6-3 advantage, but two goals in less than 60 seconds had Hunter back to trailing just 6-5.

Thomas Ophir’s goal came .7 seconds before the break.

Chelsea Johnson. Picture, John Gass

THE PREVIEW

Australian Youth squad members Chelsea Johnson and Lily Carrick, both Queenslanders, were gaining valuable experience playing for Hunter in the AWL - their first exposure to senior national league water polo.

Lily Carrick earlier in the season.

Johnson has come from a winning culture, having risen up through the Mermaids ranks while Carrick, an outstanding St Rita’s College sprint swimmer, is enhancing her reputation in the water polo pool.

Both girls are basically on loan to Hunter from Queensland, which in the long run will benefit Queensland water polo because the AWL has fast-tracked their exposures at AWL level.

The pair and Hunter junior Emma Preece, a Newcastle native, will be Players to Watch on Sunday.

Preece is off to a flying start in the AWL and has been a prolific goal scoring machine for the Hurricanes. She is her team’s leading scorer with eight goals.

SOME KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM BOTH SIDES

HUNTER (men)

Keenan and Mitchell Marsden

A dynamic brother duo - crafty players with exceptional knowledge of the game. They are looking to lead with experience. The boys are sons of former Aussie Sharks captain Daniel Marsden

Spencer Burdack

Young gun Spencer Burdack lines up for the Hunter Hurricanes Men this year, after recently being selected in the Australian Youth Men’s team. He’ll be looking to gain experience in the 2022 Australian Waterpolo League. Currently the leading goal scorer for Hunter with 10 goals this season.

The great Rhys Howden. Picture, John Gass

THUNDER (men)

Rhys Howden

The great Rhys Howden is a four-time Olympian, a prolific goal scorer who just keeps on keeping on.

Nic Porter

If there was a silver lining to COVID-19, it is that it enticed home elite Australian athletes to their respective sports. For water polo, that meant Nic Porter returning from the US to protect his team’s goals. He is Australia’s No. 1 goalkeeper.

Matilda Moore, left, is a Thunder player. Picture: Richard Walker

HUNTER (women)

Chelsea Johnson

Johnson comes from rich sporting stock, with her mother Nicola a Queensland and Australian representative and dad Lance a former top notch ironman and Queensland water polo player. The St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School student is gathering great experience playing against the best senior players.

Emma Preece

Newcastle’s is her team’s leading scorer with eight goals.

Bronwen Knox. Picture, John Gass

THUNDER (women)

Bronwen Knox

The Thunder men have Rhys Howden and the Thunder women Bronwen Knox - also a four-time Olympian. Knox not only contributes as a player, but also as an inpool captain and coach. The young members of the squad - and some older ones as well - hang off her every word.

Matilda Moore

Just as COVID-19 dragged Nic Porter (men) back from the US, so also did it lure Moore to return to her home state. The Rockhampton product adds great depth to the Thunder squad.

LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE

Sunday:

Women: Queensland Thunder v Hunter Hurricanes 10am

Men: Queensland Thunder v Hunter Hurricanes 11:30am.

February 26:

Tritons Pride game 4.45pm

Women: Queensland Thunder v Drummoyne Devils 6:30pm

Men: Queensland Thunder v Drummoyne Devils 8pm