Maroons forward Jess Elliston has backed her pack to contain the New South Wales middles as her side fights to prevent a historic 'bluewash'.
The home side are decided underdogs, with three key outs coming into the match, with injury striking out captain Tamika Upton, powerful winger Julia Robinson and starting forward Makenzie Weale.
However, Elliston said spirits and belief remained high in the Queensland camp, with coach Nathan Cross handing out two debut caps, with Destiny Mino-Sinapati coming in at fullback, while former Cowboys forward Lillian Yarrow comes onto the bench for her maiden opportunity.
“I'm so excited for the girls, they deserve it so much," Elliston said.
“Destiny, I'm so, so proud of her. Obviously playing with her at Titans, she's absolutely going to kill it and I couldn't be more proud.
“She deserves it so much.
“I think her being in this camp, she has just done everything right.
“From training against her to everything at each step she deserves it so much.
“I think she would be a bit nervous, but she's absolutely going to kill it and we all back her.
“Same with Lilli, another prop coming through.
“Both those girls are going to take this opportunity and absolutely kill it."
Despite the opening two losses, Elliston said the side had taken the positives from their performances, knowing they were in the game until the dying stages in both.
While their errors and penalties had cruelled their chances, the Titans forward leader said her pack had taken great confidence in how they had stood up against the star-studded forwards in the New South Wales side.
“I think our middles have actually been really strong against New South Wales," Elliston said.
“I don't think we've taken a backward step at all really.
“You have the likes of Keilee Joseph putting girls on their back most times, so, I don't think that's really a worry for us so much through the middle.
“We’ll just do our job and compete and keep doing that."
While the series has been lost, don't tell Elliston it's a 'dead rubber' because she is not having any of that talk, stating she was determined to deny the Blues a clean sweep.
“Not dead rubber, we don't want to play for a dead rubber," Elliston said.
“It's not going to be a dead rubber, that's what it's (not) going to be.
“So we're coming into it (determined) …
Inside Camp: Nathan Cross
“Going off last year, we were put in the same situation and this time, we're going to do the same thing.
“(What we are focusing on for this game is) just to understand what we're playing for and why.
“Our why into this jersey and everything that goes into putting on this jersey and playing for Queensland.
“I think that's something that (coach Nathan Cross) has put in and made sure that we're really looking into and playing for."
Match: Maroons v Blues Women
Game 3 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues Women
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
- Get your tickets HERE!
Tickets available from $20 for Adults, $10 for kids and $40 for families.
