Growing up the Adamstown Heights pair spent countless hours at Lambton Pool alongside their parents, eventually making the transition to play water polo themselves.

Now the teenage siblings have both cracked national representative squads, more than two decades after father Renae finished with the Australian senior men's side.

"They work very hard and it's good to see them rewarded for that," Renae, who notched up 16 Test caps before a dislocated shoulder basically ended his international career during the 1990s, said.

Kotara High School students Spencer, 16, and Lexie, 14, are two of many Hunter Hurricanes juniors who have received higher honours in recent times.

Spencer and Newcastle High School's Bryn Leonard-England were named in Water Polo Australia's 'Launch to LA' squad for boys born in 2003 and 2004.

Lexie and Lambton High School's Amali Jarrett were also listed in a national 'Launch to LA' group, but for girls born in 2005.

State teams followed shortly after last month and the Hurricanes scored 10 spots with Declan McLeod (born 2005 boys), Finlay Bawden, Daniel Culjak, Morgan Hughes, Nash Kearney, Kobey Pitkin (born 2006 boys), Samirah Arnold, Anabelle Flook, Elise Mills and Eve Stanton (born 2006 girls) all getting the nod.

"We [Hurricanes] work really hard at junior development," Renae said.

"You've got to make it fun so the kids come back, but it's a great sport so that's not too hard.

"We've also got really great coaches. I'm down here at the pool now and we've got two of our national league players looking after junior teams. There's a lot of value in that for the kids and it gives them something to aspire to.

"We're also very lucky with access to the pool so we can train and improve."

Commitments for 'Launch to LA' squads, such as training camps, friendly matches and tournaments, remain up in the air because of the global coronavirus pandemic.

The Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (under-12, under-14, under-16, under-18) are still scheduled for Brisbane from January 11 to 23.

The 2021 Australian Water Polo League is supposed to get underway at the end of January. Renae will continue coaching the Hurricanes women, who lose former Olympian Jane Moran. Dan Marsden has again been appointed to steer the Hunter men.

Meanwhile, Olympic hopeful Nathan Power remains at home in New Lambton but hopes to depart "very soon" and join new club Barcelona for the Spanish league.

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