Damian McKenzie on why this final will be different for Chiefs

Damian McKenzie says his Chiefs team are ready to put their poor record in final games this decade behind them, with a “new group” looking to reach new heights.

The Hamilton-based outfit has reached each of the past three Super Rugby Pacific finals, falling short to the Crusaders in 2023, the Blues in 2024, and then the Crusaders again in 2025.

McKenzie and Co. exorcised some demons by thrashing the Crusaders in last week’s semi-final, while the Hurricanes put the Blues to the sword to set up the No.1 vs No.2 seed decider.

The Chiefs enter the contest as underdogs, despite winning the only regular-season matchup between the two finalists in Super Point, but McKenzie feels they’ve learned the lessons required to go one better than their recent finals efforts.

“We’ve learned a lot, obviously, over the last three years, falling short. And I think those lessons we’ve definitely taken from those past finals,” the playmaker told Elliott Smith on Newstalk ZB.

“I think the way the group’s played this year and the maturity of the group around being able to adapt and play different styles of rugby when we’ve needed to. And in playoff rugby, you’ve got to win those small moments in matches.

“I guess in the past, we probably haven’t been able to quite get momentum back when we’ve needed to. And yeah, I think this year we’ve learned a lot as a team. And obviously that’s the past, and this is a new year. This is a new group, and I think that through the continuity and experience of the group, too, it puts us in a good position for this weekend.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

3

Draws

0

Wins

2

Average Points scored

25

22

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

60%

The team’s performance last weekend to eliminate the defending champions was a statement of intent and signalled they are capable of lifting as the lights get brightest.

“If we can replicate anything that we did in that first forty from last weekend, that’ll be great, a great start to the game,” McKenzie said.

“And you, obviously in finals rugby, you’ve got to come out of the gates and start well, or weather the storm when you need to.

“But if we can take each moment as it comes and focus on what’s in front of us, then that’ll put us in a good position.
But we obviously know the threats that the Canes bring, and the good rugby they’ve played all year, so it’s going to be a great battle on Saturday night.”

The 74-Test All Black said the Hurricanes have “big ball-carriers and backs that are very capable of finishing”, highlighting the need to cut down their time and space with the ball.

Meanwhile, on attack, the Chiefs have the services of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year, Quinn Tupaea, who has enjoyed the best season of his career to date and will start in his familiar No.12 jersey, next to McKenzie.

“I think he thoroughly deserves that award. He’s played some great rugby all year, as have a lot of other players,” McKenzie said, having presented the midfielder with the news of his award win earlier this week.

“But I guess for me to have a guy like Quinn outside me who gives me a lot of voice, he’s the guy you give the ball to, and he gets over the gain line. And I think his leadership, which he’s grown over the last couple of years, has been exceptional and great to watch.

“So to have a guy like him outside me gives me a lot of confidence around the way I want to play my game. I’ve been fortunate enough to have played a lot of rugby with Quinn now, and hopefully we get the best version of Quinn on Saturday night, which I’m sure we will again.”

While Tupaea will line up against fellow All Blacks star Jordie Barrett of the Hurricanes, McKenzie is set to lock horns with one of New Zealand’s rising stars and potentially his biggest threat in the race for the black No.10 jersey, Ruben Love. McKenzie, who has six more years of professional rugby under his belt than his young counterpart, says Love’s form this season has been impressive.

“He’s grown a lot of confidence around his game. He’s obviously got a great relationship with Cam (Roigard) and Jordie (Barrett) outside him.

“So yeah, he’s been playing some good footy, and he’s a guy we’ve got to try and shut down his time and space because when he gets going, their team just flows.

“He’s obviously got a bright future, I’ve obviously spent a bit of time with him in the ABs. He’s doing pretty well for himself at the moment.”