THE best young water polo players in the State will be in the Manning this weekend as part of the largest ever entry in the State under 16s club championships.

The championships will be held at both the Manning Aquatic and Leisure Centre and Wingham Pool on Saturday and Sunday.

It will be the first time the championships have been held outside of Sydney and will attract 30 teams - eight more than the previous highest entry - and about 365 players.

Teams have been entered from all parts of the State with players travelling from as far as Alstonville, Albury, Tamworth, Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Newcastle.

The Manning will be represented by seven players in the various club teams.

In the boys division Michael Salmon and Brendan Johnson will play for Sydney University while Jordan Fussell and Toby Hunt will represent Newcastle.

In the girls division Samantha Doel and Jessica Northam will play for St George while Tillie Hunt will represent Newcastle.

While it is the first time the Manning has hosted the under 16s tournament, the under 14s championship has been played successfully locally for the last few years.

Organisers are expecting a high quality of water polo, with players at the age where they are highly motivated and rapidly improving their skills.

The girls' competition will be centred at Wingham while the boys will play at the aquatic centre through most of the weekend.

On Sunday the boys' playoff for the lower positions will be held at Wingham while the playoffs for the higher positions and the grand finals will be staged at the aquatic centre.

Saturday's play at both pools will run from 7.30am to 7.30pm.

On Sunday Wingham will see play from 7.30am to about 2.30pm.

Play at the aquatic centre on Sunday will run from 7.30am to about 4pm, with the grand finals to be played from about 2pm.