Livestream Sydney Cup water polo finals: Amy Ridge, Bronte Halligan’s Olympic bid

They have been sharing rooms, laughs and experiences for years. Now these besties share the dream of going to the Tokyo Olympics. How to livestream Sydney Cup finals.

Amanda Lulham

@amandalulham

2 min read

April 1, 2021 - 11:50AM

NewsLocal

Australian water polo best mates Amy Ridge and Bronte Halligan are chasing Tokyo Olympic selection together. Pics: Supplied

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They met playing water polo as little girls and bonded when they became roomies at a tournament when just 13.

Now, more than a decade on, Amy Ridge and Bronte Halligan are the best of mates and partners in a bid to make the Australian Stingers team for the Tokyo Olympics.

The pair, playing in the KAP7 Sydney Cup where finals will be livestreamed on News Corp sites, including The Daily Telegraph, on Saturday, maintain their closeness helps them in and out if the water as they both support and egg each other on.

The Australian water polo best mates play for UNSW in the Australian league. Pics: Supplied

“Our relationship is more similar to that of sisters,” said Ridge, who with Halligan has been drafted into the Cronulla Sharks team for the Sydney Cup, a tournament devised following the cancellation of the Australia water polo league in Queensland which was due to start on Wednesday.

“We can tolerate each others annoying qualities but we are also open and honest. It’s a very candid relationship.”

Halligan, daughter of NRL goal kicking legend and former Canterbury Bulldog Daryl Halligan, said while she and Ridge have a common goal of chasing Olympic representation, there are also a number of other similarities between she and Ridge.

“We are both 24, we have birthdays three days apart and we are both tall and blonde a d people say we look very similar,” she said.

The pair have been touring together since they were juniors.

“It’s a pretty unique, cool position to be in to go through a sport with someone so close, someone you can share it all with.

“We play on opposite sides of the pool but we get to mark each other up and beat each up in training which is fun.’’

The pair are so close Halligan moved from the northern beaches to live with Ridge and her family at Coogee after her parents return to New Zealand during the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s nice to share the ups and downs with someone who knows how it works, someone who knows you inside out, “ Halligan said.

“You can lean on each other.”

Jamie Neushul of the USA gets some attention from Bronte Halligan. in a USA v Australia Test.

Following the cancellation of the Australia Water Polo League in Brisbane due to a COVID outbreak, the Sydney Cup was organised to run until Easter Saturday when the four medal matches will be livestreamed.

Australian Stingers and Sharks players who did not have a team were drafted into different sides to spread the talent and experience.

UNSW players Ruby Swading, Hayley Ballesty and Lea Yanitsas have also joined Halligan and Ridge in the Cronulla side for the Sydney Cup.