Mayor Jack Boyd and Claire Durston (co-captain), Jade Vinson (co-captain) and Luke Brbot (club president) at the council meeting with copies of a Mayoral Minute. Picture supplied

Cronulla Water Polo triumphed in the 2026 Australian Water Polo League (AWL) Finals despite being "a minnow" when it comes to funding".

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While clubs funded by universities and other big donors are purchasing players from overseas and across Australia, many of Cronulla's top women's teams are "local girls" who started in the sport in Gunnamatta Bay baths when they were nine or ten.

For the first time in the club's history, both the men's and women's teams qualified for their respective grand finals in March 2026, with the latter defeating Sydney University 15-12.

The Cronulla Sharks women's team celebrate the club's first AWL title since 2012. Picture supplied

The magnitude of the club's achievement was recognised at the April 28 meeting of Sutherland Shire Council.

Mayor Jack Boyd, who delivered a mayoral minute, said many clubs that competed in this competition had significant financial backing from universities and other bodies.

"Cronulla would be considered a minnow when it comes to the funding stakes but the structures that have been built around the club is incredible," he said.

"Cronulla has produced an inordinate number of Olympians.

"While the sport is well attended in Sutherland Shire, it doesn't have the same professionalised funding models that sports like soccer, AFL, rugby league or others have.

"It really is a sport that relies on the passion of volunteers, and to compete in a national competition and have that success despite all those challenges really comes off the back of a lot of hard work in the community who support the club and its players."

Club president Luke Brbot said Cronulla Water Polo was "very proudly a community club".

"The other clubs do have a lot of university backing and a lot of private funding as well, it's scary," he said.

"To run these girls through the competitions, there is a $100,000 licence fee, $50,000 for each team, and then we have a cost of about $80,000 to put that program together.

"To give you an idea of our opposition, that budget is 15 per cent of what Sydney University has - and we beat them.

"The big call-out for us as a club is we want to develop our own."

Brbot said "arms race is probably the wrong term to use in this current climate, but in our sport that is exactly what it is".

"Clubs go and purchase players from overseas, from across the country, bring in ridiculous programs for what is an amateur sport in this country and then expect an even competition," he said.

"It's very, very funny that a majority of our girls are local girls, play Gunnamatta water polo at the age of nine and 10, and then 15 years later get to hold the trophy on behalf of the community.

"I thank the council for their support and look forward to continued support at Gunnamatta, which is our spiritual home, and when those plans are developed I hope the water polo club is well supported."

Cr Kal Glanznig, a long-time member of the club, said, "It is such an incredible feat to do that without the backing that a lot of other clubs have with heavy donors.

"I have been part of the club since I was 10 years old and it has taught so many people in our community so much grit and resilience."

Cr Meredith Laverty, a former player, said "Women's water polo is probably the fiercest thing I have ever done and the athleticism required is extraordinary".

"There is something in the Sutherland Leisure Centre water - you trip over Olympians down there," she said.