By Huw Beynon
The Pan Pacific Youth Water Polo Championships have been taking place in Auckland this week giving up and coming players the chance to perform in front of the national coaches.
But there is one young player who has impressed already; at home and abroad.
Joe Kayes, 19, was back playing for his home club Tauranga this week – having just returned from Hungary and his first season as a professional.
The Hungarian league is the best in the world – Kayes is the only Kiwi in it; the New Zealand coach thinks that's not enough and says more needs to be done to get more Kiwis playing abroad.
As for the short term, Kayes will go to Greece with the under 20s squad for the World Champs next year.
He thinks playing in Hungary has done him the world of good and calls the league over there a “huge learning curve”.
Worryingly for New Zealand there are rumours nine-time Olympic champions Hungary have approached Kayes – wanting him to play for them.
“It'd be devastating for New Zealand… but Hungary's where's its at,” says Goldsworth.
Kayes won't be drawn on the subject.
“We'll leave them as rumours for now,” he says.
The only thing he's sure about is that his future is in the pool.
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