Sharks Qualify for World League Super Final with Intercontinental Victory on Gold Coast

The Australian men’s water polo team has qualified for the World League Super Final after claiming the Intercontinental Tournament on the Gold Coast with an 8-6 win over the USA in the gold-medal match.

The Sharks finished the Tournament undefeated after six days of competition against; USA, Japan, New Zealand, China and Kazakhstan.

In the team’s first major international event since the Rio Olympic Games, the tournament represented the start of the next four-year cycle towards Tokyo 2020.

Captaining the Australian side for the first time, Rio Olympian Joe Kayes said the final had been a test of attrition for his squad.

“Tough was an understatement!It was all-out war out there today and I was getting smashed – I don’t think I kept my head up for very long,” Kayes said.

“The boys played really well.We knew it would be a totally different game to what we played the other day against the USA.

“Our boys out wide were extremely dangerous which was really nice for me (in the centres).

“It was an absolute pleasure to captain these boys, the young ones, five on debut, it was good to see every game they picked up a lot and we saw that in today’s final,” he said.

Despite the USA coming out strong to take an early 2-0 lead, the Aussies didn’t let them get too far away, using the home crowd to spur them on.

“It seems to be the same old story with us, we take a few (goals) before we really wake up.

“Today we took it on ourselves to lift back up and we did well leading into the end of that first quarter and into half time,” Kayes said.

A solid combination of experience and youth proved the difference for the Australians, with head coach Elvis Fatovic pleased with his new look side’s efforts over the six day Tournament.

“We were pretty confident in our defence and when you are confident in defence then everything is different on the other side. That was the key for us in this Tournament,” Fatovic said.

“We knew we had some players that could clear some opportunity in attack individually and as a team.

“I’m very happy with our improvement in defence for me in every team sport this is the most important thing.

“I like how we play as a team. The team spirit we have had in the last two weeks, I’m impressed with our senior group and how they approach this Tournament and how they support the younger guys,” he said.

The win secured Australia a spot in the FINA World League Super Final that will take place 20-25 Junes in Ruza, Russia. The Super Final will see Australia go up against the top sides from this Tournament along with top teams from Europe ahead of the all-important World Championships in Budapest in July.

Western Australia was well served in the final, with Ed Slade in goals, Luke Pavillard scoring twice and James Fannon once, whilst there were also solid contributions from Tim Putt and Andrew Ford.

-WaterPoloAus