Hat-trick puts Joel in pole for Olympics
Kooka on track for Paris ticket
It was the hat-trick heard around the hockey world that heralded Joel Rintala’s arrival in Kookaburras colours.
In just his second international start, the 26-year-old struck three goals in 21 minutes to sink New Zealand in Christchurch on Anzac Day and announce himself as a bolter for the 2024 Olympics.
About 2500km away in Brisbane his girlfriend, swimming superstar Shayna Jack, was hard at work training to realise her own Olympic dream.
“(Our anniversary) was Tuesday; Anzac Day. Seven years with Shayna,” Rintala said.
“She’s back at training, back home in Brissie. She couldn’t get over (to watch).”
Rintala was poolside for Jack’s long-awaited swimming return last year and will no doubt be there if and when she swims for gold in Paris. But now, after his incredible breakout performance against the Black Sticks, the Kookaburras forward can start drawing up his own Olympic dream.
One game does not a Paris berth make, but it was a fine outing for a player who only 12 months ago was battling a debilitating injury, wondering if and when his time would ever come.
“I had (a) bone stress (injury) in my left shin,” Rintala said.
“I had it at the start of (last) year and I rehabbed it, went over to Perth for six weeks and got it again when I went back to Brissie. But I’m fully fit now and ready to go.”
After breaking into the Kookaburras
squad last year, the Queenslander was finally rewarded for his efforts with a place in the team for the FIH Pro League mini-series against Great Britain and New Zealand in Christchurch this week.
“It’s been a bit of a long slog to get here,” Rintala said.
“I just kept going and always saw the light at the end of the tunnel. I just kept putting in the (hard) yards. Coming off a lot of injuries last year to then carry into this year and make my debut in Christchurch is pretty special.”
A man who knows Rintala better than most is fellow Queenslander Daniel Beale.
The midfielder had front-row seats to the first-half hat-trick that helped the Kookaburras snap a
two-game FIH Pro League losing streak.
“He’s worked extremely hard and been through some adversity to find his way into this squad,” Beale said.
“He’s done all the right things, gotten his body right, and he just brings a freshness and excitement (to the team). He’s a world-class drag flicker and he’s been given the opportunity (in Christchurch) because we don’t have Jeremy Hayward and Blake Govers.”
A rematch with Great Britain beckons today, before the Kookaburras close out the mini-series with another clash against New Zealand on Sunday.
Team GB came from behind to pip Australia 2-1 last Sunday.