Stage is set for blockbuster finals day at Summer Slam

With the penultimate day of competition wrapped up, the stage is set for a blockbuster day of finals tomorrow at the Summer Slam in Brisbane.

With all important finals positions up for grabs, many games went down to the wire and some impressive skills were on display.

After some tough semi finals matches today, it will be Queensland Maroon and NSW Blues who will meet in tomorrow’s 20&U women’s gold medal match, with Youth Barbarians Green and Youth Barbarians Gold to battle it out for bronze.

Despite finishing second in the pool, Queensland Maroon managed to stage an upset over top of the table Youth Barbarians Green in the semi finals to earn their gold medal berth.

Queensland captain Kate Blew said she could not be more proud of her team for their semi final win.

“We’re so excited - to be honest we didn’t think we were going to get this far but the team has really come together after such a rocky preparation,” Blew said.

“We’re just so excited and so proud of each other for making it through to the gold medal match.

“The pressure is on - everyone always wants that gold but we’ve worked so hard to get where we are so either way we’re just so proud and really happy to be in the gold medal game,” she said.

With a gold medal up for grabs, Blew credited Queensland’s coach and 2004 Olympian Jodie Stuhmcke for helping them to get to this point.

“It’s so good to have Jodie as our coach, and for believing in us so much,” Blew said.

“She’s full of so much knowledge, so we’re always picking her brain apart and asking heaps of questions.

“She’s so understanding and just wants the best for us, so I hope we do her proud tomorrow,” she said.

In the second semi final, NSW Blues blew Youth Barbarians Gold out of the park, claiming a 14-4 victory to book their spot in the big dance.

Blues’ Sienna Hearn said although it’s taken some adjusting too, her side are hitting form at exactly the right time.

“It has been physically tough, we haven’t played a lot of games recently so we’re just getting used to the physicality of the game again,” Hearn said.

“It’s really good to be back in the pool with all the girls. It’s definitely been a shock to the system, and the body is definitely a bit tired.

“Knowing we’re guaranteed a medal tomorrow is a bit comforting, but we also want to go for the gold.

“That’s a bit of added pressure, but that’s pressure we put on ourselves and we want that pressure, it keeps us honest,” she said.

It will be a State of Origin style rivalry, and one that the NSW Blues are certainly ready to tackle.

“We haven’t really seen those girls play in a couple of years, so we’ve just to be ready to adapt to the game and see how it unfolds,” Hearn said.

“We’re a bit nervous and excited at the same time, we haven’t played this level of games in ages, so the nerves might kick in.

But hopefully we can get that under control and come away with the win. We’re going out there and we’re going to leave nothing in the pool,” she said.

In the men’s competition, NSW Blues will meet Youth Barbarians in the gold medal match, with the bronze medal match to be played between Queensland Maroon and Victoria.

The bronze and gold medal matches will be live streamed via News Corp Australia - click here to watch