2014 World Championship representative Mitch Baird and Hunter Hurricanes team-mate Daniel Robinson dropped in to do some work with the squad.

The two have set up their own water polo academy on the Central Coast – Bar In.

Active for about three months now, it was born out of their own experiences coming through the ranks and the “glass ceiling” that exists for country kids.

“Mitch and I started the academy to improve regional water polo and give regional players the same opportunities as the metro kids have,” Robinson said.

“I experienced what these kids are experiencing – not being recognised for your talent, not making teams because of where you’re from, not being a regular face.”

Baird, too, was often overlooked.

He’d never made a rep side before he made the Aussie Sharks squad.

Both are part of the Hunter Hurricanes side that won bronze in the just-completed National League.

“It was the first time we’d made the finals in 10 years,” Robinson said.

It was even more rewarding given that they finished last last season.

He said they “want to make sure when we send these Country teams to state and national championships they become more and more competitive, to the point of winning.”

“To be brutally honest we are a long way behind, because we don’t have the resources to progress,” he said.

Skills are a big part of it.

“We start from the start – with the basics,” Robinson said. “Building a skills base.”

It is a lot about repetition and ball work.

“Everything we do is with a ball,” he said.

Even swimming.

He said as well as a strong skill base, it is also important to have a good endurance base, and a good understanding of the game.

“All of a sudden you haven’t got 10 seconds, you’ve got one second,” he said.

He grew up playing against Tamworth and played alongside a couple of Tamworth’s best water polo exports at Wests, so knows the talent there is around, and said they are keen to to more work with the NIAS program.

“I think they do great work,” he said.

They’re looking at coming up at least monthly.

“I said to Gail (Salter - assistant coach) there’s no magic wand. It’s a process,” he said.

“But you’ve got to start somewhere.”

Program head coach Craig Salter said it was great to have the two up here.

“The whole concept with the Bar In academy and what they’re trying to do for country kids is great,” he said.

They did some centre forward and centre back work with them and also looked at their shooting.