Water Rats is an Australian TV police procedural broadcast on the Nine Network from 1996 to 2001. The series was based on the work of the men and women of the Sydney Water Police who fight crime around Sydney Harbour and surrounding locales. The show was set on and around Goat Island in Sydney Harbour. Water Rats premiered on 12 February 1996, and ran for six seasons and 177 episodes. Colin Friels and Catherine McClements were the original stars of the series and were instrumental in the show's early success. They both departed the show in 1999. In later seasons, Steve Bisley, Aaron Pedersen and Dee Smart became the show's main stars. For the sixth and final season in 2001, the show concentrated more on the cops' personal lives rather than just focusing on the crimes committed. The Nine Network cancelled the show after six seasons. Executive Producer Kris Noble blamed escalating costs for the cancellation. However, Bisley and Smart had also quit the show and the series had been suffering a ratings decline following the departure of Friels and McClements in 1999. The final episode was broadcast in Australia on 7 August 2001. Cast Colin Friels as Det Snr Constable Frank Holloway (1996–1999) Catherine McClements as Det Snr Constable Rachel Goldstein (1996–1999) Steve Bisley as Det Sergeant Jack Christey (1998–2001) Jay Laga'aia as Snr Const Tommy Tavita (1996–2000) Aaron Pedersen as Det Constable Michael Reilly (1999–2001) Dee Smart as Det Snr Constable Alex St. Clare (2000–2001) Supporting cast Peter Bensley as Snr Sgt/Chief Insp Jeff Hawker (1996–2001) Bill Young as Chief Insp Clarke Webb (1996 only) Brett Partridge as Snr Constable Gavin Sykes (1996–2001) Toni Scanlan as Snr Sgt Helen Blakemore (1996–2001) Scott Burgess as Snr Sgt Dave McCall (1996–1999) Aaron Jeffery as Constable Terry Watson (1996–1998) Sophie Heathcote as Constable Fiona Cassidy (1996–1997) Raelee Hill as Constable Tayler Johnson (1997–1999) Allison Cratchley as Constable Emma Woods (1998–2001) Diarmid Heidenreich as Constable Matthew Quinn (2000–2001) Rebecca Smart as Constable Donna Janevski (2000–2001) Tom McCrickard as sickly drug addict Stringy Oscar (1996-1999) Blake Power as Jewish school child (1996-1999) Recurring roles Peter Mochrie as Detective Snr Sergeant John Harrison (22 episodes, 1996) Jeremy Callaghan as Detective Snr Constable Kevin Holloway (10 episodes, 1996) Richard Healy as Insp Tony Brady (14 episodes, 1996–1997) Treffyn Koreshoff as David Goldstein (17 episodes, 1996–1999) John Walton as John Walton (26 episodes, 1997–1999) Anthony Martin