WATER POLO LIVESTREAM: Champ Rhys Howden ready for Premier League grand final
Queensland and Australian water polo champion Rhys Howden is primed for grand final day on Sunday when the inaugural Premier League comes to a head - all livestreamed at www.couriermail.com.au, the Gold Coast Bulletin and News affiliates.
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Queensland and Australian water polo champion Rhys Howden is primed for grand final day on Sunday when the inaugural Premier League comes to a head - all livestreamed at www.couriermail.com.au, the Gold Coast Bulletin and News affiliates.
Howden’s Brisbane Barracudas will confront Carina Leagues Warriors in the men’s final while in the women’s decider Barracudas will play North Brisbane Polo Bears.
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Howden was expecting “a lot of banter’’ between rivals, many of whom train together in the Queensland Thunder squad.
“It will be fun,’’ said the triple Olympian.
“I know in the round one game it went to shoot out.
“They have some really good young players, most of which are in the QAS program.’’
Spearheading Carina’s campaign will be Australian goalie Nic Porter, the seasoned Riley Townsend and past Olympian Anthony Martin.
“They have a good mix of old guys and young talent,’’ Howden said.
But on the other side of the fence Barras will flex its muscle through the appearance of Howden, his Australian teammate Billy Miller, past Olympian Shaun Boyd and elite juniors like Will Valentine.
“It will be a good hit out again,’’ Howden said.
Howden praised Water Polo Queensland for establishing an elite competition incorporating the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
“We have not had anything like this for 10 years,’’ he said.
“When I was a young boy coming through the ranks we had a pretty strong Division 1 competition but overtime it faded away
“Hopefully we can keep the talent pool at their clubs and get everyone back next year.
It also bought players who had left the sport back.
“They (Water Polo Queensland) have kickstarted something for all abilities - a mix of young guys and old guys who should be returning like me,’’ he laughed.
Meanwhile, ahead of the women’s grand final North Brisbane Polo Bears star Naomi McCarthy has revealed her pathway into the sport came through rowing.
McCarthy is a Sydney Olympic gold medallist lured out of retirement to lead a young Polo Bears through the inaugural Queensland Premier League.
As a teenager McCarthy had a passion for water polo, but feared the sport would not be recognised by the Olympic committee and instead started her bid to become a rowing Olympian.
“I really wanted to go to the Olympics,’’ McCarthy said.
“But it (water polo) just never looked like happening.
“So I had a friend of mine who was a rower and I started training with him.
“But fortunately a couple of months after I started rowing women’s water polo was in (the Sydney Olympics) so I said see you later to rowing.’’
Tomorrow, read Kate Gynther thoughts on her future as we preview the women’s grand final.
LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE
SUNDAY
Yeronga pool
Noon: Bronze medal match men: Kawana v North Brisbane Polo Bears
Premier League Women
1.30pm: Bronze medal match women: Merlo Mermaids v Sunshine Coast.
3pm: Gold medal match men: Barracudas v North Brisbane Polo Bears
Premier League Men
4.30pm: Gold Medal match women: Barracudas v Carina Leagues Warriors
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