The Fremantle Mariners and UWA Torpedoes take aim at the 2014 National Water Polo League title this week, when Finals week commence from Brisbane’s Valley Pool.
Both WA clubs have qualified for the finals tournament that pits the competition’s top six sides against each other before crowning a national champion.
The Fremantle Mariners finished the home and away season in second place, whilst the Torpedoes will be aiming to go one spot better than the runner’s up place they held in 2013.
The Mariners’ reward for finishing second is a first up match with NWPL minor premiers UNSW Wests Magpies, with the winners to assume top ranking on day two of finals action, and an easier path through to the grand final.
The Torpedoes face a stern challenge in their opening fixture against Sydney University Lions, with the losing team, having to face the stronger side of the draw in the cross over matches.
For the Mariners, they will be aiming to add to the eight championship titles they’ve already registered, with the last coming in 2012.
NWPL top scorer and WAIS scholarship holder Aaron younger believes his side has what it takes to collect title number nine.
“We’re feeling quite confident. We’ve been training for this all year,” Younger said.
“We’ve had Eddie Slade (WAIS) and Daniel Lawrence (WAIS) come back into the team and they’ve added great experience to the group.
“We had a good game against UWA to finish the season and had the chance to move from third to second on the ladder.
“We stuck to our guns in attack and scored quite a few goals so we were able to finish the season well and are now looking good for the finals.”
Torpedoes club stalwart Brett McGhie said his club would be a match for any team during finals week, and predicted his side would get better as the series unfolded.
“Our fitness is there so if we can match it in the first half, with any team in the finals, we’ll be in the hunt, but we’ve just got to fix those mistakes in the first quarter mainly,” club stalwart Brett McGhie said.
“Last year we played better the longer the season went. Finals are a different game, if everyone’s on their game on the day then we should be up there.
“I think we’ve got what it takes, we’ve just got to switch on when it counts.”
The finals race is rounded out by fifth and sixth place qualifiers, Queensland Breakers and Victorian Seals respectively.
– Quotes taken from Water Polo Australia
