Hungary heartbreak for Aussie Sharks

The Aussie Sharks will play for Water Polo World Cup bronze, after a heartbreaking loss to world number two Hungary in today’s semi finals, 12-13.

Inseparable from the outset, the Aussie Sharks put up a tough fight, cheered home by thousands of Australian water polo fans that packed out Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

Sydney sider, 23 year old Laurence Barker – a New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder – was integral for the Sharks in goals, making nine saves at 40% – equal to if not better than the world’s best goal keepers.

“Me, in the cage, is good and all, but I can’t do half the stuff I do in there without the coaches setting up defensive schemes for us, the players in the water getting good blocks up front,” Barker said.

“Honestly, I can make as many saves as I want, but at the end of the day it’s the boys in the water that are helping,.”

Barker was emotional when reflecting on how much it means for the team to have this opportunity to play at home in front of a huge crowd. 

“It was so special – I was tearing up just thinking about the amount of kids that were in that crowd today watching us fight tooth and nail with one of the best teams in the world,” Barker said. “The Australian team, we’re a bunch of blue collar guys, we’ve all got day jobs and we’re fighting with the highest paid professionals in the world.

“To be able to do that in this pool…the atmosphere was so special,” he said.

Nic Constantin-Bicari was nothing short of impressive in attack, putting three goals into the back of the net to keep his team in the game.

Bicari said the passionate home crowd was like a 15th player, and he hopes they turn up in droves again tomorrow to back them to a medal performance.

“To play in front of our fans…it gives us so much energy. And we’re really enjoying what’s happening now – we’re competing against the best nations in the world until the last minute,” Bicari said.

“This is the first time we’ve competed with all the team together…the older guys and the younger guys. So it’s really nice that we’re able to compete until the last seconds. 

“But I’m really proud of the group and now we’ve got to focus straight ahead on the medal tomorrow.”

Aussie Sharks Head Coach, Tim Hamill said the team will take some time to feel the emotions of tonight’s game, before jumping back in the pool tomorrow for the bronze medal match.

“Obviously tonight’s game is going to hurt for some time, to get within one goal with a shot at the end to push it to penalties…it will hurt,” Hamill said. “But I’m really, incredibly proud of the playing group. I was proud of them after the game two nights ago, and I feel the same way tonight,” he said.

The Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks will play Italy on Sunday at 2:30pm in the men’s bronze medal final.

Water Polo Australia