Live stream: Catch six games on the opening day of 2023 Water Polo Queensland Premier League
With over 120 goals from six games, the opening day from the Gold Coast certainly provided some serious entertainment. Re-live all the action and return on October 29 for round 2.
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There was certainly no lack of great goalscoring feats as the 2023 WPQ Premier League kicked off with a bang on the Gold Coast on Sunday.
More than 120 goals found the back of the net in six games, with reigning men’s champions, UQ Water Polo, providing the most entertainment by scoring 25 in disposing of River City.
Read on for all match reports.
REPLAYS
WOMEN
Sunshine Coast v Polo Bears (Womens)
Mermaids v Gold Coast (Womens)
Vikings v UQ Water Polo (Women)
MEN
Gold Coast v Bushrangers (Men)
Polo Bears v Vikings (Mens)
River City v UQ Water Polo (Mens)
MATCH REPORTS
Polo Bears 22 d Sunshine Coast 0 (Women)
Three-time reigning women’s premiers, the North Brisbane Polo Bears, put on a grizzly show of dominance in their opening round of the 2023 Queensland Water Polo Premier League, defeating Sunshine Coast 22-0.
The side made an early splash to be 6-0 at quartertime before continuing on their trek to double digits.
Emile Middlemass and Alice Williams dominated the scoring with seven and five goals apiece.
Charlize Andrews, Bronwen Knox, Bridgette Leeson-Smith, Jessica Emerson and Jemima Irvine also found the back of the net.
But it was their defence which stood out the most, including a tremendous effort from goalkeeper Eve Gath to keep Sunshine Coast to zero.
Assistant coach Madi Wall said it was a good example of how the team came together.
“The main thing we focus on is playing as a team and making sure we’re working hard,” she said.
“It was our first game and it was a solid team effort.
“We don’t ever go into a game thinking we’ll be dominant, but I think you’ve always got to go in with confidence.”
Wall said the depth of the Polo Bears extends to the bench, which will come in handy for the rest of the season.
“We will just continue working as a team, onwards and upwards.”
Despite the scoreline, the Polo Bears were quick to give their opponents credit.
“Just because the scoreline is big doesn’t mean there wasn’t a contest,” Wall said.
“Sunny Coast is physical and it’s always a shock to the system when you go into a physical game.
“Ideally you want games to be contestable and it didn’t feel like it was a walkover.”
Mermaids 17 d Gold Coast 4 (Women)
The 2022 women’s bronze medallists, the Merlo Mermaids, have got off to a fast start, demolishing Gold Coast 17-4 in their opener.
The Mermaids had the game in their keeping by quarter time when they led 5-0. They scored four goals in the sceond quarter to lead by nine at the main break.
A third quarter triple from Kasey Dalziel put the Mermaids into cruise control, while Gold Coast’s Caroline Zanussi scored her team’s first.
The final quarter was a more even affair as the two sides shared six goals between them.
Dalziel scored four for Mermaids while Matilda Moore and Pippa Pedley scored three each.
The goals were shared by Gold Coast’s Zanussi, Bailee Johns, Ellie Negline and Cosi Winter.
UQ Water Polo 20 d Gold Coast 4 (Women)
Vikings turned a dominant first half performance into an opening round rout of UQ Water Polo as the 2023 WPQ Premier League kicked off with a goalfest on the Gold Coast.
Vikings turned a 9-2 halftime advantage into a 20-4 demolition of last year’s runners up and look the real deal this year as they set their sights on toppling title favourites and defending champions Polo Bears.
UQ actually opened the match scoring, but found themselves down 6-1 by the quarter time and simply had no answer to Vikings’ attacking prowess.
Vikings scored twice more before UQ grabbed their second. Their final two goals came late in the final term when the game was long gone.
Vikings 16 d Polo Bears 10 (Men)
Vikings, the 2022 men’s bronze medallists, started their season with a hard-fought 16-10 victory over the North Brisbane Polo Bears.
After leading 8-2 at quarter time, the Vikings dropped the pace, scoring just three in the second quarter as the Polo Bears worked their way into the game.
The third quarter saw the Polo Bears in with a real shot as Sean Bright scored a double to go with Ethan Topp’s second of the game.
It was the scare Vikings needed to kick back into gear in the final quarter.
Liam Johns found the net for his second goal, while Drew Gynther and Patrick Flanagan both pulled off a double.
UQ Water Polo 25 d River City 7 (Men)
Reigning men’s premiers UQ wasted no time in claiming a 25-7 victory in their afternoon clash with River City.
UQ kept their opponents to zero in the first quarter while grabbing eight quick goals courtesy of Fraser Duguid (1), Billy Miller (2), Marcus Moncur (2), Jack French (1) and Josh Eyles (2).
The whitewash continued into the second quarter with Miller and Mocur adding to their personal tallies and helping get UQ to a 17-2 lead.
River City found a slight groove after halftime, scoring four goals to UQ’s one.
Hopes for a comeback were squashed in the final term when UQ’s Dylan McDonald scored a hat-trick, adding to goals from Moncur, Miller and Kobe Jennison.
PREVIEW
Vikings, Two super coaches chasing a four-peat, national team ambitions, young guns out to make an impression .... the Water Polo Queensland Premier League will certainly serve up plenty of intrigue this year.
And it all kicks off on Sunday at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.
Three-time Premier League-winning mentors Naomi McCarthy and Akos Janosi are back to lead Polo Bears (women) and UQ (men) respectively - and they can’t wait to get started.
“We’ve been training for two months and we look good,” said Janosi.
Catch six games LIVE, starting with the Vikings v UQ women’s game at 9.30am, with KommunityTV.
Watch more than 30 games over three round and finals, including a big grand finals day on Sunday, November 26.
Read on to discover what’s in store for the 2023 WPQ Premier League including injuries, insights and more from the reigning men’s and women’s premiership coaches.
WOMEN’S reigning premiers: Polo Bears (Coach: Naomi McCarthy)
McCarthy has led the Polo Bears to three-straight premierships, winning every women’s Premier League season since its inception.
With a roster almost identical to 2022, the super coach is confident her team will continue their reign this year.
Her first challenge will be Sunshine Coast, but McCarthy is confident her team’s experience together will earn them a win.
“A number of our players have either competed in the national competition, or have represented Australia, while three just got back from Olympic qualification,” she said.
“Sunny Coast are a very young team who are more developing.”
Round one will be hosted at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, which McCarthy said is a great venue.
“It’s nice down at Southport overlooking the water,” she said.
“You do get what we call ‘throwing in the elements’ which will test everyone, but that’s a good thing.”
How have you prepared for the opening round
The Polo Bears have had an interrupted pre-season, according to McCarthy.
“I feel like a lot of teams will be in the same boat as us, but we haven’t had a single full training yet,” she said.
Despite players being called up for Olympic qualification and national duties, McCarthy is hoping any distractions will have minimal impact on her players.
“We’re just going to be playing our way into form.”
Team strengths
“We’ve got a very strong defensive team, which is really important,” McCarthy said.
“And we have a couple of players that are particularly good in attacking.
“But for me, it’s all about defence.”
The only major change to the Polo Bears’ lineup in 2023 is the addition of defensive specialist Jess Emerson, who has moved from UQ.
Player to watch this weekend and why
While the Polo Bears are yet to announce their captain/s for 2023, Bron Knox will no doubt be a player to watch this week. The four-time Olympian is a powerhouse of her side, with nine international medals to her senior career tally.
Casualty ward
Minor injuries are being watched within the squad, but there is nothing serious to report.
“We’ve got a couple of niggles being looked after,” McCarthy said on Tuesday.
MEN’S reigning premiers: UQ (Coach: Akos Janosi)
Janosi is a three-time premiership winning coach as well (Warriors 2020/21, UQ 2022).
His 100 per cent success rate in the competition will be put to the test in 2023 as he takes UQ for a second with high hopes and even high expectations.
“I have a very good team at the moment full of national league players and two Olympians,” he said.
“We’ve been training for two months and we look good... playing better and better every week, so I have big hopes.”
Last year UQ edged out Janosi’s old club by one goal in the grand final, but the master mentor knows a target is on his back.
“We’re better than last year because we have a lot of young players and they’ve done a year, so everybody is more mature and can now focus on tactical skills,” he said.
“Not just hitting the pool and wanting to play water polo... they are capable of trying new things, new tactics, new zone.”
Player to watch this week and why
Rhys Howden, UQ captain with Olympic Games experience from 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020.
Howden’s leadership is as top notch as his skills in the pool. The 36-year-old will have eyes on him this weekend as UQ hope to start their season strong.
Casualty ward
No injuries or illness for round one
Game prediction + season prediction
UQ face River City in their opener - and are taking nothing for granted.
“Realistically, the only two teams to challenge us will be University and Warriors... but it only takes one game and you’re done,” Janosi said.
With this is mind, UQ is in hot contention to be back-to-back premiers this season under the same coach as 2022.
Originally published as Live stream: Catch six games on the opening day of 2023 Water Polo Queensland Premier League
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