Australian youth squad dominated by Water Polo Australia 19 and under men’s stars, result wrap

Success breeds success and that’s happened in the wake of the 19s national state water polo titles. While one state is celebrating with a host of players in the Aussie squad, others might not be.

Amanda Lulham

@amandalulham

less than 2 min read

December 13, 2022 - 1:04PM

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NSW were big winners at the national state championships.

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The NSW Blues water polo team won the 18 and under national states for men and have been rewarded with a host of their star players being named in the new Australian junior men’s squad being aimed at the world championships in 2023 and the LA and Brisbane Olympics.

NSW blasted the New Zealand youth side out of the water with a masterful display in the finale of the tournament in Sydney on Monday.

The NSW Blues beat New Zealand 16-5 after scoring seven unanswered goals in the first period.

Laurence Barker from the Drummoyne club and Marcus Berehulak from Cronulla, two of the stars of the final, were named MVP goalie and MVP respectively and head a long list of NSW young guns who have made the Australian side named immediately after the Sydney tournament.

In total 17 players were named from NSW, including seven from the powerhouse Sydney Uni club, six from the Cronulla club and three from Drummoyne.

NSW were big winners at the national state championships.

This is more than half the squad named to work towards the worlds and other major events in 2023 as water polo builds into a medal force for the home Olympics in 2032.

In contrast Queensland, a state which traditionally supplied a massive pool of talent has only four players named.

Water Polo player Marcus Berehulak. Pic: Supplied

Western Australia have five players in the squad with the ACT, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria all sporting one name on the squad list.

AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR WATER POLO SQUAD

Laurence Barker (Drummoyne, NSW), Marcus Berehulak (Cronulla, NSW), Mattia Bognolo (ACT), Matthew Bonser (UQ Barracudas, QLD), Peter Bruce (Melville, WA), Max Churchyard (Cronulla, NSW), Nicholas Crowe (Cronulla, NSW), Max Culleton (Carina Warriors, QLD), Jack Dwyer (Drummoyne, NSW), Tyler Fazio (UWA, WA), Koby Gilchrist (Cronulla, NSW), Tristan Glanznig (Cronulla, NSW), Ryan Goldschmidt (Sydney Uni, NSW) Toby Goldschmidt (Sydney Uni, NSW), Andrej Grgurevic (Sydney Uni, NSW), Mason Irving (Melville, WA), Tyler Krenkels (Sydney Uni, NSW), Luka Kricka (Sydney Uni, NSW), Luka Krstic (Sydney Uni, NSW), Julian Kyriakou (UWA, WA), Jordan Lancaster (Drummoyne, NSW), Rory McKell (Cronulla, NSW), Sam McKenzie (SA), Ryan Medic (River City, QLD), Daniel Munk (Balmain, NSW), Oliver Purcell (Melbourne, VIC), Luke Stimson (Sydney Uni, NSW), Harry Tucker (UWA, WA), William Valentine (UQ Barracudas, QLD), Griffin Woodhouse (Triton, WA), Hunter Wright (Sandy Bay, TAS).