Water Polo live stream: Favourites, clubs to watch in AWL Championship, Southern Cross Cup (Australian Water Polo League)

It’s been six years since Sydney Uni won the women’s AWL. This weekend will go a long way in deciding whether that drought can be broken in 2023. See who is vital to their prospects of winning.

There’s good reason Australian women’s coach Paul Oberman is tipping the Queensland Thunder women’s side to continue their impressive run of victories in the 2023 Australian Water Polo League (AWL) championship series.

Stingers coach Oberman said the Queenslanders have one of the best blends of youth and experience along with a healthy smattering of national players and some of the best rising stars.

“Queensland have depth, loads of it,” said Oberman ahead of the opening weekend of games in both the AWL Championship and Southern Cross series.

But when it comes to the men, Oberman, who has worked with the national squad in the past, said this competition is shaping up as a thriller.

Can Sydney Uni Lionesses beat Queensland Thunder?

KommunityTV are showcasing one men’s and one women’s game over five Sundays (March 12, 19, 26 and April 2 and 16) before LIVE STREAMING 16 finals games over three days - April 28 to 30.

The two LIVE games on Sunday feature two tasty encounters as Sydney Uni Lionesses first play Queensland Thunder in the women’s before their men’s team face off against title favourites UNSW Magpies.

Queensland Thunder finished top of the women’s table to assume the No. 1 ranking heading into the AWL championship, which is being contested by the top six teams based on KAP7 Cup results.

Oberman was full of praise for the Thunder and confessed, ‘I don’t see their run coming to an end any time soon.’

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“They have some national squad members and plenty of national junior and youth squad players. That really adds to them, to their strength,’’ Oberman said.

“But Fremantle could certainly press them. They have a good top seven that can challenge.

“And Sydney Uni, they have two superstars in Maude Meggens and Annie Espar and some good youngsters and junior squad members.’’

“The men’s is really close, really close,” he said. “Anyone, at any stage, could win.

UNSW men face Sydney Uni this weekend.

“Looking at it there’s been five games this season that have ended in a draw. That’s amazing.

“Sydney Uni is a bit of a dark horse. They haven’t had their best team for a game so far.

“Wests are still undefeated and have national team players, Cronulla has a good team chemistry, so they can’t be written off. Drummoyne is similar with a good team chemistry.

“The Torpedoes have a good top end and Balmain have some very good individual players. Nathan Thomas is trying to mould them into a team right now.’’

Originally published as Water Polo live stream: Favourites, clubs to watch in AWL Championship, Southern Cross Cup (Australian Water Polo League)