A new broadcast deal between Water Polo Australia and News Corp means water polo fans will be able to live stream more than 200 games in 2022 reports the Herald Sun.
The deal covers the Australian Waterpolo League (AWL), Australian Youth Championships (under 14s to under 18s) and the Summer Slam.
Games will stream across The Courier-Mail, The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, Herald-Sun, The Advertiser, Hobart Mercury, plus many regional websites.
The season will start with the Summer Slam in Brisbane from January 10 a state versus state competition for under 16s, 18s and 20s.
Olympians and future stars vying for a spot in teams bound for Paris 2024 will then go head to head in the AWL which starts on Australia Day.
Eleven teams will battle it out across 230 games of water polo in a new format eight-week competition. All teams will battle it out for the KAP7 Cup in the first two weeks and with just the top six teams progressing to the championship rounds every point will count. Each team in the championship will play each other twice across five rounds before the finals series in April.
The bottom five teams will play off for the Southern Cross Cup, over four rounds.
Queensland Thunder, who won the last tournament in 2019, will be the team to beat.
Australian Waterpolo League: Players to watch in 2022
| Women | Men |
| Rowie Webster (3x Olympian) – Victorian Phoenix | George Ford (dual Olympian) — UWA Torpedoes |
| Bron Knox (4x Olympian) – Qld Thunder | Andrew Ford (Tokyo Olympian) – UWA Torpedoes |
| Zoe Arancini (2x Olympian) – Fremantle Marlins | Blake Edwards (Tokyo Olympian)- Drummoyne Devils |
| Keesja Gofers (2x Olympian) – Sydney Uni Lions | Lachlan Edwards (Tokyo Olympian)— Drummoyne Devils |
| Gabbi Palm (Tokyo Olympian) – Qld Thunder | Nathan Power (Tokyo Olympian) – UNSW West Magpies |
| Abby Andrews – (Tokyo Olympian) – Qld Thunder | Tim Putt – (Tokyo Olympian) – UNSW West Magpies |
| Rhys Howden (4x Olympian) – Qld Thunder |
Water Polo Australia CEO Richard McInnes said the partnership with News Corp Australia would look to extend the work started during the KAP7 Cup earlier this year.
“We are excited to extend our partnership with News Corp Australia that will see more than 200 games streamed live, the most water polo matches Aussies have ever had available,” Mr McInnes said.
“A partnership with News Corp Australia will not only ensure our water polo fans can watch more water polo through live matches and replays, but it allows our sport to connect to new audiences through their extensive reach.
“From our grassroots club competitions through to our premier Australian Water Polo League, we will be able to showcase the best our sport has to offer and allow more people to learn about water polo and about our players.
Victorian Phoenix President Gary Barclay congratulated Water Polo Australia CEO Richard McInnes and all those involved in securing this opportunity and providing a platform to grow the sport and the profile of the players.
Victorian Phoenix Water Polo Club 