Australian water polo secures potential 10 year sponsorship deal with Ord Minnett

The stars of Australia’s water polo teams have hailed the arrival of a breakthrough sponsorship deal that will hopefully aid a climb back onto the podium at the biggest events in world sport.

Stingers star Tilly Kearns has hailed the unprecedented support of new sponsor Ord Minnett, saying the company’s backing could help put Australian water polo back on the podium at the sport’s pinnacle events.

Leading wealth management group Ord Minnett was revealed on Monday as the naming rights sponsor of both the Aussie Sharks (men) and Stingers (women) water polo teams for at least the next five years, with the potential for the deal to extend until after the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.

For a sport boasting major strongholds in Europe and North America, travel is a necessary but costly part of preparation for major events and the new backing – the first time a naming rights sponsor has backed both the men’s and women’s sides – is a major boost for elite players.

Australian water polo players (l-r) Nathan Power, Tim Putt, Blake Edwards, Bronte Halligan, Zoe Arancini and Tilly Kearns at the announcement Ord Minnett will sponsor the sport for at least the next five years.

Tokyo Olympian Tilly Kearns, who will be part of the Stingers’ assault on the world championships in Japan next month, said a lack of travel had been tough in the lead-up to the 2020 Games.

While that had come about mainly due to Covid shutdowns, any financial support for the national teams would be a massive benefit in the lead-up to next year’s Paris Games and ultimately, a home Olympics in 2032.

“I think (heading overseas to compete) was one of the things that we were missing in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics because of COVID and Australia obviously shutting down its borders,” Kearns said.

“We had no international games for over two years, so then to get thrown back straight into the Olympics against all those teams that had been playing each other for months and months, we were definitely at a disadvantage and we saw that in our Olympic campaign.

“With this new partnership, we’re going to definitely reap the benefits of it if we can go overseas more, if we can get other teams to come to Australia more, just to give us that experience.”

Tilly Kearns says Water Polo Australia’s partnership with Ord Minnett will help the national team prepare for benchmark tournaments. Photo: Getty Images

The sponsorship is structured as a five-year deal with a five-year option, which, if taken up, would give water polo support beyond the Brisbane Olympics in a massive deal.

Water Polo Australia boss Richard McInnes said the partnership would be vital to help the teams achieve success on the international stage.

“This partnership gives us an exciting opportunity to really leverage the green and gold runway towards Brisbane 2032, as we want the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks and Stingers to be the pride of all Australians,” McInnes said.

While the Sharks have not yet medalled on the Olympic stage, the Stingers were the inaugural champions when women’s water polo made its debut at the Sydney Games and remain competition, having lost their quarter-final to Russia by a single goal in Tokyo before again going down by a single goal at last year’s world championships to eventual runners-up Hungary.

“It definitely shows that we’re up there with the rest of the world, which I guess is a benefit … but it’s never easy losing those games,” Kearns said.

Australian Stingers water polo players Bronte Halligan, Tilly Kearns and Zoe Arancini at the announcement Ord Minnett will sponsor the team for at least the next five years.

“Especially when we have such high expectations for ourselves because we know that we can beat them and we know we should be up there on the podium every time.”

But Kearns, the daughter of former Wallabies captain Phil, who plays overseas in the tough US collegiate system, is confident they can return to the podium as soon as next month in Fukuoka.

“We have so many of our team members away overseas playing with and against these girls,” she said.

“In America, I’m playing against some of the best in the world and then obviously the girls scattered all over Europe, they’re playing with and against (the best).

“It’s just a matter of putting it together now and sticking the goals when we need them.”

The Stingers and Sharks depart Australia later this week to prepare for the world championships in Japan from July 14-30.