As the 2025 Winter Metro Competition gets underway, Water Polo NSW is celebrating unprecedented growth in team registrations, with 144 teams entered – a remarkable 10% increase from 2024. This surge in participation showcases the expanding appeal of water polo across metropolitan and regional areas, with several clubs recording exceptional growth and new institutions joining the competition for the first time.

The Coasties Are Coming

The most striking success story comes from Central Coast Water Polo, which has exploded from just 3 teams in 2024 to 11 teams in 2025 – a nearly 270% increase. This dramatic growth represents the culmination of strategic development efforts that began with the Central Coast Junior Rep Programme in the 2023/24 winter season.

Matthew Allen, representing Central Coast Water Polo, expressed his pride in the achievement: "It has been quite a meteoric rise and one I'm personally very proud of. Central Coast Water Polo has an excellent local competition and we have always produced high quality athletes from our four clubs – Wyong, The Entrance, Woy Woy and Gosford."

The region's ambitious expansion includes nine junior teams and, for the first time, two senior teams. This winter season will see approximately 120 athletes – roughly 25% of their active membership – representing the Central Coast in metropolitan competition.

"We only see it growing from here. Look out... The Coasties are coming!" Matthew added, highlighting the region's determination to establish itself as a major force in NSW water polo.

Women's Water Polo Teams Fuel Cronulla’s Winter Growth

Cronulla, celebrating its status as one of Australia's most successful water polo clubs, has experienced a surge in both men's and women's teams, expanding from 2 to 6 female teams and establishing 4 men's teams after having none in 2024. The Sharks' motto "Sharks Never Stop" continues to drive their expansion. Jodie Pritchard from Cronulla Water Polo Committee highlighted the factors behind their growth: "Cronulla Water Polo is excited to see more teams from the club involved in Metro this Winter. A lot of factors have contributed to this, with not only the commitment of our current players to play and represent, but also some recruitment of new junior players and more training and development opportunities for all involved." Jodie noted that the club's investment in both new and established coaches has been crucial to their winter expansion.

Fresh Faces Enter the Pool

The 2025 Winter Metro Competition welcomes St Catherine's Water Polo Club for their inaugural winter season appearance. After successfully completing their first summer season, St Catherine's entry marks another milestone in the competition's growth and demonstrates water polo's expanding reach to new institutions. The school has invested significantly in developing their water polo programme, launching both their Water Polo Club and Academy to provide students with professional coaching and competitive pathways.

Sienna White, Aquatic Program Lead at St Catherine's School, reflected on their successful debut summer season: "Being a new club in the NSW Metro Competition exposed our players to bigger opportunities and furthering their game development. We were lucky enough to have 3 teams entered in the summer season." Sienna highlighted key achievements including their U14C girls reaching the Grand Final and earning a silver medal, while their U12 team celebrated a victory in their final game. The school's U16 and U12 teams also gained valuable experience competing in the NSW State Championships in December, marking an important milestone for the developing programme.

A Sport Ready to Flourish

The make-up of the 2025 Winter Metro Competition reveals encouraging trends across the sport. With 96 junior participants compared to 48 seniors, the competition showcases a thriving youth development pipeline that promises a bright future for water polo in NSW. This strong junior representation – comprising two-thirds of all teams – demonstrates the sport's success in attracting and nurturing young talent.

Particularly noteworthy is the gender balance at junior levels, with 46 female teams nearly matching the 50 men's teams. This near-equal participation highlights water polo's growing appeal among young women and reflects the success of grassroots initiatives across the state.

The competition's reach continues to expand beyond traditional metropolitan strongholds. Clubs like Blue Mountains with 2 female teams and Icebergs with representation in both junior and senior divisions show water polo flourishing in diverse communities. Specialised programmes are also thriving, with clubs like Parramatta and Watson Bays running successful female-focused initiatives that contribute to the sport's inclusive development.

Jacob Balenzuela, Competitions Coordinator for WPNSW, identified several key factors contributing to this growth:

• Clubs that previously didn't participate are returning to the competition
• Existing clubs are expanding their team numbers
• Country teams are increasingly participating in metropolitan competitions

"The Winter Metro Competition provides essential development opportunities for our athletes," Jacob noted. "Seeing this level of participation demonstrates the health and vitality of water polo across New South Wales."

More Teams, More Opportunities

The 2025 Winter Metro Competition's record participation reflects the strategic initiatives implemented by Water Polo NSW and the dedication of local clubs to develop their programmes. With improved facilities, increased coaching resources, and strong community support, the competition continues to provide crucial pathways for athletes at all levels.

As teams compete throughout the winter season, the water polo community can celebrate having more teams, more players, and more opportunities than ever before – a testament to the sport's bright future in New South Wales.

For more information about the Winter Metro Competition or to follow the season's progress, visit the Water Polo NSW website at www.waterpolonsw.org.au