Hurricanes destroy Chiefs in Super Rugby final
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- 2 min read
The Hurricanes have delivered one of the best finals performance in Super Rugby history, defeating the Chiefs 60-5 in Wellington.
The hosts completed a near-perfect season with their finest performance of 2026, blowing away the Chiefs in a one-sided showing.
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Fehi Fineanganofo and Josh Moorby both created history, becoming the all-time record holders for most tries in a single season with 17.
It was one-sided traffic throughout the 80 minutes as the Hurricanes ended a 10-year drought in style, with flyhalf Ruben Love contributing 25 points in the rout.
It’s the biggest win in a Super Rugby decider, besting the Bulls’ 61-17 win over the Chiefs in 2009.
The Chiefs were handed a pre-match reprieve as captain Luke Jacobson passed a pre-game fitness test.
But it ended there as the red-hot Hurricanes attack mastered the blustery conditions in a dominant first half.
Moorby opened the scoring in the sixth minute, briefly tying the record for most tries in a Super Rugby season with his 16th.
Love added to the scoring with a classy play eight minutes later, picking up the loose ball and stepping the covering defender for the try.
With the Chiefs struggling to deal with the conditions, twice putting the restart dead, the Hurricanes continued to strike as Fineanganofo officially wrote his name in the record books.
The winger crossed for his 17th of the season after backing up Callum Harkin, swan diving over to the delight of the crowd.
The Chiefs had little answer, with their best chance coming in the 30th minute when they were held over the line.
As the half wound down, the Hurricanes kicked further into gear, with a late Harkin try and a long-range Love penalty completing a near-perfect half, leading 29-0 at the break, the biggest ever in a final.
This lead only grew as Moorby joined Fineanganofo on top with his second of the night, sharing the record.
Flanker Devan Flanders got in on the fun after running a great line off Love, returning from a layoff due to a concussion.
Centre Jordie Barrett’s try only added to the carnage, capping off his excellent night as Hnry Stadium was well into celebration mode.
But the best try was still to come when number eight Peter Lakai broke clear, leading to a short side raid for Love to deliver some magic.
The flyhalf somersaulted over the defender and somehow stayed in, bringing up 50 and his second for the night.
The Chiefs saved themselves from a slice of history, with Naitoa Ah Kuoi’s late try ensuring they didn’t become the first team to be held scoreless in a decider.
But it was all in vain as Jone Rova capped off an all-time performance with a last-minute try, capping off a special night in the New Zealand capital.
Hurricanes 60 (Moorby 2, Love 2, Barrett, Fineanganofo, Harkin, Rova, Flanders tries; Love 6 con; 1 pen) Chiefs 5 (Ah Kuoi try)
