The Hurricanes booked their place in the Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final with a 57-21 demolition of the Blues in Wellington, setting up an all-New-Zealand decider against the Chiefs next Saturday.
For an hour at Hnry Stadium the result was less certain than the final margin suggests. The Blues, who had limped into the semi-final on the back of four straight defeats, took the game to the top-seeded hosts before the Hurricanes pulled clear after the break, running in nine tries to three and becoming the first team to score 100 tries in a single Super Rugby season.
Cam Roigard set the tone inside the opening minute, shrugging off a mid-air challenge from Beauden Barrett to sprint clear from a quick tap. Beauden's brother Jordie, the Hurricanes co-captain, crashed over for the opener — but the Blues, refusing to play the part of sacrificial underdog, hit back through skipper Patrick Tuipulotu and led until Xavier Numia powered over to edge the hosts 19-14 in front at the break.
The second half was a procession. Roigard and Josh Moorby struck early, Moorby's try bringing up the Hurricanes' 100th of the campaign, before Asafo Aumua bulldozed over and replacement Ereatara Enari sniped through. Kini Naholo and a second Moorby score completed the rout. It is the Hurricanes' first final since their lone title in 2016.
That history matters here. Two years ago the Hurricanes also entered the play-offs as top qualifier, only to freeze in a 30-19 semi-final loss to these same Chiefs — a defeat that earned them a "chokers" tag the current squad, which contains 12 survivors from that night, has spent two seasons trying to shed.
"We're more prepared holistically. Our game feels like it's built on strong foundations," coach Clark Laidlaw said of the progress since 2024. "We've got a few scars, but it's all part of the growth. Frustration and disappointment are all part of growing up. This team feels like it's grown up together."
The Blues, beaten 47-24 and 42-19 by the Hurricanes earlier in the season, had arrived in Wellington as heavy underdogs, and departing coach Vern Cotter leaned into the role before kick-off.
"We'll just keep bumbling along, I guess, and see if we can put them in a bit of trouble this week," Cotter said. He was under no illusions about the threat: "They're bigger than we are and when they get over the gain-line, they have various options. They're good on the ground, good in the air. They are very complete."
So it proved. The Blues' title defence — they won the 2024 crown — ends at the semi-final stage, and Cotter departs the franchise without a return to the final.
Waiting for the Hurricanes are the Chiefs, who booked their spot a night earlier with a ruthless 49-12 dismantling of the Crusaders in Hamilton, built on a 42-5 half-time lead and marking Damian McKenzie's 150th appearance. Chiefs coach Jono Gibbes had all but called the Wellington result in advance.
"I think the Hurricanes are playing good rugby," Gibbes said after the win over the Crusaders. "I think on the past month, even you'd suggest that it will be the Hurricanes." He was already relishing the trip south: "We get going, and we get excited about a pretty awesome opportunity next week in Wellington."
The Grand Final kicks off on Saturday, June 20 at Hnry Stadium, with the Hurricanes earning home advantage as the competition's top qualifier. For a side that has waited a decade to return to this stage — and two years to bury the memory of the last time the Chiefs ended their season — the chance for redemption could hardly be more pointed.
