Waratahs smash Queensland Reds in Super W semi-final, face Fijiana Drua in final

NSW have charged through to the Super W Final and a rematch with Fijiana Drua after overcoming early resistance and injuries to beat Queensland 36-0 in the elimination semi.

The Tahs, whose unbeaten record into year five of the competition was broken by Fijiana 29-10 earlier in April, will get their chance for revenge in Melbourne in the grand final on Saturday week.

NSW, who beat Queensland 46-0 last Saturday in the final regular-season round, were made to work harder in their second contest of the week at Granville Park in Western Sydney.

Four NSW tries in 10 minutes either side of half-time settled Thursday's encounter.

The game was twice held up for several minutes in the second half as Waratahs five-eighth Arabella McKenzie and reserve front-rower Penelope Leiataua were tended to and stretchered off the field after each was tackled close to the Reds line.

In contrast to last weekend, when they struggled to build momentum, the Reds put together some strong multi-phase moves in the early stages.

However, they could not convert those into points and were made to pay later in the half when NSW scored three tries in seven minutes.

«That was a tough grind, the Reds really gave it to us, they are a hearty team,» NSW captain and number eight Grace Hamilton told Stan Sport.

«We knew we just had to grind that out.

»We just needed to get some points on the board and as soon as we did that I knew the energy would be up and we'd keep going and getting forward."

Hamilton triggered the Tahs surge, scampering about 15 metres from the base of a scrum and plunging over the line.

Finally able to string their passes together, NSW scored a brilliant second try which started from deep in their own half and covered both sides of the field.

Winger