Live stream: Watch every match of the 2025 Australian Water Polo League finals series
A record eighth national title and a fiercely competitive state of origin headlined a massive day from the Australian Water Polo League grand finals. Watch the full REPLAYS.
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Incredible seven goal hauls by Matthew Byrnes and Jarrod Gilchrist set the platform for UNSW to claim the gold medal in the men’s Australian Water Polo League season decider in Sydney on Sunday – and a piece of competition history.
In a largely tit-for-tat match, UNSW only gained a significant jump on the UWA Torpedoes in the final period to set up their remarkable five-goal win.
In a high-quality and entertaining encounter, UNSW took the match honours and AWL title with a 23-18 victory celebrated by their players with a group dive into the pool.
It also delivered them a record eighth national title.
“That’s very cool,’’ said Olympian Nathan Power, who scored two goals.
“There was lots of back and forth and no one could really get momentum.
“It was a testament to the boys how we held on.’’
Power said the performances of Byrnes and Gilchrist were outstanding.
“They both obviously played absolutely phenomenal.’’
The standout for UWA was their chief goal scorer Hannes Daube, who piled on eight goals.
On Saturday UNSW Wests showed composure under pressure to book their spot in the gold medal decider after a rally late in their semi-final match against Sydney Uni.
The University of Western Australian Torpedoes booked their spot in their first AWL decider since 2016 by knocking out arch rivals, the Fremantle Mariners, in a high scoring 22-20 battle.
DAY THREE REPLAYS
UNSW Wests v UWA Torpedoes (Men’s gold medal)
Watch the full replay in the window above.
Queensland Thunder v Sydney Uni (Women’s gold medal)
Sydney Uni v Fremantle Mariners (Men’s bronze medal)
Balmain Tigers v Fremantle Marlins (Women’s bronze medal)
Queensland Thunder v Sydney Uni (Women Gold)
It had everything a gold medal match should – plus more.
Queensland Thunder emerged triumphant from a ripper of a AWL decider which boasted stirring comebacks, rallies, poise under pressure and two crucial goals late in the match which determined the outcome.
And they did it without their star goalie Gabi Palm, who copped a head knock in the warm-up and was pulled from the start list as a last-minute scratching.
Uni made it a women’s decider to remember after rallying in the second quarter to come back from 3-0 down early to equalise at 6-6.
In what became a seesawing encounter, a cool and collected Thunder kept their heads to slot in two late goals for the grand final win and AWL 2025 gold medal.
Jessica Emerson left the pool with four goals, while Alice Williams and Bless Daly both scored three.
This much anticipated state of origin battle was set up after Queensland Thunder defeated Fremantle, who claimed bronze on Sunday, and Sydney Uni held off a fast-finishing UTS Balmain to snare their spot in the season decider with an 8–6 victory in their semi.
“It was a bit touch and go there but we held our nerve,’’ Williams said.
“We didn’t give into all the emotion I felt Sydney Uni had in that last quarter.’’
The MVP of the final was awarded to Alyssa West.
Sydney Uni v Fremantle Mariners (men’s bronze)
“A terrible look”, “a “farce’’, “high drama” is how commentators described the bronze medal playoff which descended into chaos in the final quarter on Sunday.
In what had been a closely – and hotly – contested final, the wheels fell off late with multiple red cards handed out due to the feistiness of the game and a raft of player infringements as emotions ran high.
Both benches were stripped down as replacement players were sent in to replace those in strife or injured in a bizarre end to the game.
Five players were excluded from Sydney Uni and four from Fremantle.
Uni ended up taking the win 17-10.
“It just got a bit heated,’’ said Uni’s Zac Izzard.
Australian coach Tim Hamill said the ending of the match was disappointing.
“It was a bit much. Both teams ruined what was going to be a great spectacle.’’
Balmain Tigers v Fremantle Marlins (women’s bronze)
Fremantle fought hard for their bronze medal in the playoff against UTS Balmain Tigers, claiming the match 10-6 in an entertaining tussle at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.
Fremantle co-captain Zoe Arancini and Paris silver medallist who scored in the second quarter, was one of the stars in her 350th match in which she praised her side for “leaving nothing in the tank’’.
“Defence was definitely the reason we got the win today,’’ said Arancini, who was a junior coming off the bench in 2005/06 when she made her AWL debut.
“We got off to a good start which was our plan but our defence won it for us.
“It’s nice to come away with something. It’s a reflection of the season we had which is good.’’
Aranchini said the bronze was a team effort with everyone doing their role.
Top goal scorers for Fremantle were Ioanna Haralabidis with four and Sofie Pontre and Stephania Haralabidis with two each.
For UTS Balmain Tayla Dawkins and Sienna Hearn both scored two.
DAY 2 REPLAYS
UWA Torpedoes v Fremantle Mariners (Men’s semi final)
UNSW Wests v Sydney Uni (Men’s semi final)
UTS Balmain v Drummoyne Devils (Men’s 5th place playoff)
Sydney Uni Lions v UTS Balmain Tigers (women’s semi final)
Queensland Thunder v Fremantle Marlins (women’s semi final)
Drummoyne Devils v Cronulla Sharks (Women’s 5th place playoff)
University of Western Australian Torpedoes have fought their way back to the Australian Water Polo League grand final for the first time since 2016.
The Torpedoes defeated western rivals Fremantle Mariners 22-20 to secure passage into the decider against University of New South Wales Wests on Sunday.
Fremantle had led 13-8 before the Torpedoes roared to life late, scoring 16 of the next 20 goals across the third and fourth quarters to go within a game of the national title.
That momentum began with an 8-1 scoring run that Kommunity TV commentator Mike Westdorp compared to a “nuclear arms race” for who could slam home the biggest goal.
A late flurry of consolation goals brought Freo closer but the damage had been done.
It was a similar tale in the other men’s decider as University of New South Wales Wests surged late to stun Sydney University and secure its own progression into the national decider.
UNSW Wests broke free of an eight goal deadlock at three-quarter time to blast clear 11-8 in a scoreline that failed to reflect the even nature of the contest.
Sydney Uni had reeled back a 3-2 deficit at quarter time to lead 6-5 at the major break but could not maintain their advantage.
In the playoff for fifth place, Drummoyne Devils gave AJ Roach a 200th game celebration to remember with the veteran scoring a memorable long range goal that proved the difference in a 17-16 win over University of Technology Sydney Balmain.
Sydney Uni will battle Queensland Thunder in a State of Origin inspired women’s decider.
The Queenslanders shot to a 5-1 advantage in the opening quarter of their semi-final against Fremantle Marlins, setting the stage for a 9-7 victory.
Sydney Uni silenced a comeback effort from UTS Balmain to win 8-6 to book their place in the final.
DAY 1 REPLAYS
Sydney Uni Lions v Drummoyne Devils (Men’s elimination final)
Fremantle Mariners v Balmain Tigers (Men’s elimination final)
Cronulla Sharks v Fremantle Marlins (Women’s elimination final)
UTS Balmain Tigers v Drummoyne Devils (Women’s elimination final)
WATER POLO POWERHOUSE PURSUING TITLE RECORD
This club has a stacked line-up, pride to play for and a spot in history if they can win the Australian Water Polo League finals – but there could be a problem.
UNSW Wests are in the box seat heading into the final three days of the competition to become the first club in history to win eight men’s crowns.
But there’s another who could beat them to the punch if they let down their guard with Fremantle – also seven-time AWL winners – eyeing the title.
Every game of the finals series will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV beginning on Friday and culminating in Sunday’s gold medal matches.
“Fremantle came third on the ladder so there’s a big chance they could be in the final,’’ said UNSW gun and multiple Olympian Nathan Power.
“It would be a very cool thing to win. We’re a very proud club.’’
Power said the Magpies were holding themselves to a high standard this season after failing to defend the AWL crown in 2024.
“We finished fifth, were knocked out in one of the first qualifications,’’ he said.
“We certainly expected to go better because we have quite a bit of success (in the past).
“We hold ourselves to a high standard and last year wasn’t great.’’
The return of a number of big names after the Paris Olympics, including Matthew Byrnes and Angus Lambie, has helped UNSW to the impressive record of 16 wins and just two losses this season – both to second-placed UWA Torpedoes.
“The standard has been very high. There are no excuses,’’ Power said.
“There’s only one outcome which is acceptable this year.’’
Going into the final weekend it is expected UNSW will likely face either UWA or Fremantle in the season decider on Sunday in Sydney.
The Magpies are stacked with Olympic size talent with John Hedges (Paris) and Jarrod Gilchrist (Rio) also in the pool for the Sydney-based team.
Fremantle boasts Olympian Luke Pavillard – Australia’s best player in France – while UWA has Tokyo Olympians George and Andrew Ford and US Olympian Hannes Daube on the books.
Queensland enter finals as favourite to claim the women’s crown with Sydney Uni Lions looming as their biggest challenger.
UTS Balmain, Cronulla, Fremantle and Druymmoyne will also look to prevent the Thunder from going back-to-back.
STAGE SET TO DECIDE AUSTRALIAN WATER POLO’S BEST
A pair of competition powerhouses will enter this weekend’s Australian Water Polo League finals with title favouritism as the 2025 season reaches its climax.
Beginning on Friday, the country’s top athletes will face off at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre before crowning the champions on Sunday.
Every match of the AWL finals series will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV and across all of News Corp Australia’s digital mastheads.
After an action-packed campaign, UNSW Wests and Queensland Thunder loom as the teams to beat after finishing top of the men’s and women’s ladders respectively.
The Magpies – seven-time champions – will be searching for an unprecedented eighth title, fuelled by a disappointing exit in last year’s finals where they were unable to defend their 2023 crown.
But UNSW will have stiff competition for the premiership.
Western Australian challengers UWA Torpedoes finished equal on 16 wins with the Magpies but placed second due to a single bonus point.
Led by the competition’s top scorer in American Hannes Daube, the Torpedoes defeated UNSW in both of their clashes in the minor rounds and will fancy themselves to go all the way.
Fremantle Mariners (third) and Sydney Uni Lions (fourth) have plenty of firepower to cause trouble in the finals while reigning champions Drummoyne Devils and sixth-ranked UTS Balmain Tigers cannot be discounted.
On the women’s side, the Thunder will be gunning for back-to-back titles and their fourth since 2019.
Star Spanish sisters Anni and Clara Espar Llaquet headline a strong Sydney Uni side which placed second and will have desires to return to the top step.
UTS Balmain are the only side to beat the Thunder so far in 2025, while Fremantle made a remarkable run to the grand final last season and will need to come from fifth to win it.
Cronulla Sharks – featuring leading scorer Danijela Jackovich – and Drummoyne round out the women’s finalists.
Watch all the action live and exclusive here on KommunityTV from Thursday.
WHERE THEY FINISHED
WOMEN’S LADDER
1. Griffith Uni Queensland Thunder
2. Sydney Uni Lions
3. UTS Balmain Tigers
4. Cronulla Sharks
5. Fremantle Marlins
6. Drummoyne Devils
7. UWA Torpedoes
8. UNSW Wests
9. Victorian Phoenix
10. Hunter Hurricanes
MEN’S LADDER
1. UNSW Wests
2. UWA Torpedoes
3. Fremantle Mariners
4. Sydney Uni Lions
5. Drummoyne Devils
6. UTS Balmain Tigers
7. Cronulla Sharks
8. Griffith Uni Queensland Thunder
9. Hunter Hurricanes
10. Victorian Phoenix
Originally published as Live stream: Watch every match of the 2025 Australian Water Polo League finals series
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