Prior to MPWPC, Rosehill College and subsequently the Manukau Water Polo Club flew the flag for water polo in South Auckland, with a number of those involved then making a significant and lasting contribution to MPWPC. 

One of those pioneers was John O’Reilly. John and his family have been involved with Mountfort for a number of years with John coaching, wife Michele a previous club secretary, and John’s three children playing through the grades for the club. MPWPC caught up with John for some reflections on those early days. 

What got you interested in water polo?
In 1982 I was a year 11 student at Auckland’s Sacred Heart College and a swimmer at Papakura swimming club. My swimming friends played water polo for Rosehill College, then one of the top school teams in Auckland and the North Island. Believing I would be a swim off asset, my Rosehill friends encouraged me to leave Sacred Heart so I could play water polo for Rosehill. This was an easy choice as Rosehill had a great pedigree in water polo with a number of Auckland secondary schools’ representatives, including one athlete who subsequently took up a water polo related scholarship with UCLA.

What was your swimming club, and tell us a bit about your national title..
I learnt to swim at Papakura Swim Club Saturday mornings, then progressing to Tuesday and Thursday club nights whilst swimming and competing for Papakura and later Counties based swimming squads. I still remember being beaten by some Manurewa club trained swimmers trained by Jane Logan (Jane and her husband Terry established MPWPC in 2006). I was one of the few competitive swimmers playing water polo and doing surf lifesaving, giving me a competitive advantage with greater power and acceleration in the water. In 1987 I was lucky enough to become Counties' first NZ open title winner in the 50m Freestyle. 

You transferred from Sacred Heart to Rosehill to play water polo, what prompted that?
In 1982 Sacred Heart College did not have a Water polo team and Rosehill College had one of the best school teams in the country. Rosehill College players also had a team competing in the Auckland men’s league and a club team called Manukau that played in national tournaments. This provided a great opportunity for me to develop as a water polo player. Rosehill lost its star player to rivals Auckland Boys' Grammar in 1983 giving me a solid slot as swimmer in the school and club team. 

What are some of the memories of your playing years at Rosehill?
Playing for Rosehill gave me the opportunity to play in two Auckland Secondary school finals, 1983 being the most memorable with us beating Auckland Boys' Grammar at Rosehill College in front of busloads of vocal and intimidating Auckland Grammar students, and teachers including Graham Henry (later to become All Black coach).  While playing for Rosehill I was selected for the Auckland Secondary schools’ team with Patrick O’Halloran while his older brother Michael was on National hockey duty. 

I was later a swimmer/sub in the Auckland 19’s playing against Hawaii State University with Michael O’Halloran the teams centre forward. That was a team that had the next generation of NZ water polo superstars like Kurt Goldsworthy (ex MPWPC Head Coach) who was probably about 16 at the time.

Rosehill was one of the Premier Secondary Schools Waterpolo teams between 1982 and 1984, winning the Auckland Secondary and New Zealand Secondary Schools Competitions in 1982 and being finalists in Auckland and NZ competitions in 1983 and 1984 tournaments with Michael O’Halloran often making the tournament teams. Everyone pulled together as a team, everyone tried hard for each other and when we were getting smashed at a senior men’s national level we held our heads high knowing how much we were developing as players.  We did however have lots of help over the years from other players including Brendan Horan (a NZ Mens Representative),  Russell McKinnon (ex NZ Captain) and some American players on loan.

Rosehill players became the essence of the Manukau Waterpolo Club between 1985 and 1984 which competed at a National Club Senior Mens level. Those players then competed under the Counties regional name at National level.  I had the privilege of being able to participate at National level water polo through the Manukau Waterpolo Club and Counties, forming strong friendships with those players including a number who still play social waterpolo at Mountfort.

What kept you motivated with your sport in your younger days?
Water polo is such an enjoyable sport to play with safe physicality, comradery, competition, team work, while rapidly developing fitness and strength, Water is a great equaliser and in a water polo team there is a place for everyone. 

What encouraged you to contribute to Mountfort (recalling your pool control, coaching and winning a Div 2 Nationals title with U16 girls)?
It started with playing social water polo on a Sunday night over a number of years. I found seeing young players develop and grow while having fun very enjoyable. At the time Mountfort was a feeder club for some of the more established Auckland clubs, so playing a small part helping develop depth within the club has been very rewarding. Mountfort has access to resources and support as good as any Auckland club and South Auckland is rich with talent, diversity and potential, I couldn’t have asked for a better club to have my children playing water polo for.

What is some advice for our younger players?
Have fun, water sports require considerable training in proportion to competition (especially if you are a 50m sprinter), enjoy your training and your team mates, if you are lucky, some you will  keep for life. Honour and respect everyone, you can’t play polo without team mates and it’s no fun winning a race when you are the only competitor. Hard training and team work will always beat natural talent.

Thanks for your time John and thanks for your contribution to water polo out south!