WATER POLO LIVESTREAM: Triple Olympian Kate Gynther plots playing on after grand finals

The great Kate Gynther was likely to play on after being lured out of retirement for the inaugural Water Polo Queensland Premier League which reaches grand final day on Sunday. Finals will be livestreamed at www.couriermail.com.au, the Gold Coast Bulletin and News affiliates.

The great Kate Gynther was likely to play on after being lured out of retirement for the inaugural Water Polo Queensland Premier League which reaches grand final day on Sunday. Finals will be livestreamed at www.couriermail.com.au, at the Gold Coast Bulletin and News affiliates, with the bronze medal play-offs starting at noon.

Gynther, the triple Olympian (2004, 2008, 2012) and dual Olympic water polo bronze medallist, will spearhead Brisbane Barracudas in Sunday’s women’s gold medal match at the Yeronga Pool (4.30pm).

Barras were also in the men's grand final against Carina Leagues Warriors (3pm).

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Gynther retired after the Queensland Thunder’s premiership winning national league campaign in 2019 but was lured out of retirement to play in the new Premier League.

She ruled out a return to the national league, but said playing in the Premier League was seriously considered.

“I can see myself playing something like this in seasons to come,’’ she said. “I don’t think at this stage I will be back playing national league which is a huge commitment.’’

Barracudas player Kate Gynther. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Just like her counterpart in the men’s Barras, Rhys Howden, and her Polo Bears rival in Sunday’s decider, Sydney gold medal winning Olympian Naomi McCarthy, Gynther said she was enjoying a mentoring role to the next generation of players.

“I much prefer still playing (to coaching), being in the water and being able to pass on that knowledge or within a training session after a game,’’ Gynther said.

Olympian-in-waiting and Barras team mate Abby Andrews said it was wonderful playing alongside Gynther.

“When we started Barras I was young and she was on a whole other level,’’ said Andrews, the baby of the Australian team who is set for her Olympic debut in Tokyo.

“I was scared to pass to her if it was a bad pass. It was the end of the world, traumatising

“But now I feel like we are more equals.

“She has such great vision and I know she will get it to the right side of the pool.

“Right now we have a really good connection.

“And I am looking forward to developing it further.’’

Gynther said it was “nice to hear’’ she was helping young players like Andrews.

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Just as Andrews was aspiring to be a prolific goal scorer, Gynther was an elite goal scorer for Australia.

Abby Andrews and Horatia Schlect in the Queensland Premier League Water Polo match between Barracudas and North Brisbane Polo Bears at Fortitude Valley Pool, Sunday, October 25, 2020 - Picture: Richard Walker

Asked what the secret to her success was, Gynther, a Brisbane State High School alumni said: “I had good teams around me which helps.

“In our sports the focus can unfortunately be on how is scoring goals and how many goals they are scoring.

“But in this game it is the team work which leads up to goals.

“And I think that was part of my success - I ended up finishing, but it was set up by other players around me.’’

She said the two Olympic bronze medal winning performances were career highlights, with the penalty shootout win at the China Olympics the most satisfying of all.

Just as Barras would benefit from having Gynther’s experience around the group, Polo Bears have also benefited from having the likes of comeback queen Naomi McCarthy, her Sydney Olympics gold medal teammate Jo Clark and their Athens 2004 Olympic teammate Jodie Stuhmcke.

Throw into the mix triple Olympian Bronwen Knox and a host of rookies like Charlize Andrews and Sophie Milliken Polo Bears had a red hot chance of winning.

LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

Yeronga pool

Premier League finals

Noon: Bronze medal match: Kawana v North Brisbane Polo Bears

Premier League Women

1.30pm: Bronze medal match: Merlo Mermaids v Sunshine Coast.

Premier League Women

3pm: Gold medal match men: Barracudas v North Brisbane Polo Bears

4.30pm: Gold Medal match women: Barracudas v Carina Leagues Warriors

THE SQUADS

Barracuadas v Polo Bears

Gold medal women

Barracudas: Gabi Palm, Phoebe Powell, Amelia Hodgson, Zoe Balmanno, Abby Andrews, Amelia Watt, Kate Gynther, Gracie Albion, Jessica Emerson, Tenealle Fasala, Anna Lenarduzzi, Elizabeth Nolan, Ruby Fox.

Polo Bears: Eve Gath, Claudia Czerniawski, Charlize Andrews, Naomi McCarthy, Sophie Milliken, Bonwen Knox, Jodie Stuhmcke, Bridget Leeson-Smith, Abigail Houston, Meg Wilcox, Cordeila Gibson, Joanne Fox, Horatia Schlect.

Bronze medal women

Sunshine Coast v Merlo Mermaids:

Sunshne Coast: Lily Merlo, Tyler Baillie, Hannah Watt, Paris Bromfield, Matilda Sweeney, Karla Lowe, Lilyan Sheterline, Cosi Winter, Maddi Coolican, Tiana Anderson, Ash Roberts, Baillie Johns, Jess Lundgren.

Merlo Mermaids: Power Kate, Nasser Molly, Moore Matilda, Fredericks Hannah, Owen Lara,

Downes Louisa, Elliott Lulu, Campbell Alice, Dalziel Kasey, Williams Alice, Johnson Chelsea, Black Paige, Comiskey Mary

Warriors v Barracudas

Gold medal men

Warriors Porter, Nic, Avenia, Benjamin, Downes, William, Josh Andrews, Chris Corbin, Martin Anthony, Gosney, Cooper, Greenbank, Stewart, Hansen, Daniel, Fettell, Mason, Goode, Max, Townsend, Reilly, Hardy, Tom.

Barracudas: Fabio Pavanello, Rhys Howden, Billy Miller, Matthew Giles, Scott Gynther, Drew Gynther, Will Valentine, James Kininmonth, Sean Boyd, Will Armstrong, Chris Broome, Noah Bright.

Kawana v Polo Bears

Bronze medal men

Polo Bears: Rick Joustra, Fraser Duguid, Kai Majoros, Casper Van Der Struijk, Dylan McDonald, Kobe Jennison, Sam Lenarduzzi, Mason Black, Jack Foder, Nick Pace, Chris Buchanan, Ethan Topp, Fletcher Dudley.

Kawana: Matt Lenarduzzi, Ben Letchford, Francis Rupnick, Louis Brunner, Seth Burrows, Sam Harris, Pat Flanagan, Riley Korac, Tora Majoros, Liam Johns, Gus Powell, Steele Gribble, Nino Magasic, Xaiver Clark.