Callum Harkin stars as Hurricanes run away with dominant win over Blues

Callum Harkin and Fehi Fineanganofo starred as the Hurricanes delivered a statement 42-19 win over the Blues in a top-of-the-table Super Rugby Pacific clash, beating their North Island rivals in Wellington for the first time in two years.

Ruben Love lined up opposite Beauden Barrett, as the Hurricanes played just their second New Zealand derby of the season. They defeated the Highlanders 50-7 on March 20, while the Blues were 1-1 against their countrymen in 2026.

Blues first five-eighth Barrett returned to New Zealand’s windy capital, 10 years after guiding the Hurricanes to a drought-breaking title. But the playmaker’s homecoming began with a mistake, sending the opening kickoff into touch on the full.

Both forward packs met in the midfield of the park for a scrum, packing down far earlier than anyone would’ve expected. 20 seconds later, it was time for the first lineout after Hurricanes backrower Peter Lakai carried Blues flyer Cody Vai into touch.

The Hurricanes played a lot of rugby inside the opposition half early on, leading to the opening try of the contest in the fifth minute. Cam Roigard, Billy Proctor and Ruben Love were involved in spreading the ball wide right inside the red zone, finding fullback Harkin in some space.

Harkin timed the run to perfection, charging onto the ball at full pace in centre-field. The fullback took Vai, beating the former All Blacks Sevens flyer and a last-ditch tackle attempt from opposite Zarn Sullivan on the try line.

After the successful conversion attempt from Love, the Hurricanes continued to control both the territory and possession battles. Fineanganofo made a half-break into the red zone, but a knock-on saw possession change hands.

The Canes were back inside the Blues’ 22 a couple of minutes later, which led to their second try of the night. Asafo Aumua was stopped a metre shy of the line before Proctor fought his way over a few phases later.

Love was again accurate off the goal-kicking tee, with the Hurricanes racing out to a commanding 14- nil lead after as many minutes. But the match’s momentum swung in the Blues’ favour midway through the half, with AJ Lam touching down for the team’s first points.

Lam was unmarked a couple of meters out from the line, receiving the ball and diving under the sticks in the 21^st minute. That effort got the Blues back into the contest, and it wasn’t long until the deficit was reduced even further.

The Blues spread the ball towards the left wing, with Caleb Clarke getting the ball with plenty of work still to do. Love came across in defence and attempted a try-saving stop, but Clarke added five to the Blues score with a diving finish just inside the sideline.

But with Barrett missing the tough conversion, the Hurricanes still held a two-point lead. There was a fairly tense period from there as both teams looked to take control, and ultimately, it was the Hurricanes who made a try-scoring statement.

Roigard peeled off a scrum 40 metres out from the house, beating a couple of defenders during a run into the attacking 22. Love and Proctor got their hands on the ball, spreading it to Newcastle-bound Fineanganofo on the left wing.

There were at least three Blues defenders around Fineanganofo, who powered over for a decisive five-pointer deep in the half. Love maintained his 100 per cent accuracy off the kicking tee as the hosts took a nine-point advantage into the sheds.

As the Sky Sport commentators made a note to start the second half, both teams rarely start each half by sending the kick-off into touch. But that’s exactly what happened, with Love making the error.

Again, both forward packs set up for an early scrum, before Finlay Christie attempted to kick the Blues out of danger. Harkin leapt up to claim the high ball, with the men in yellow and black building up some phases in attack from then.

Aumua crashed over for the first points of the second term, peeling off an attacking rolling maul in the 47^th minute. The Blues maul split as the Hurricanes peeled to the right, before Fineanganofo helped push the front-rower over for the score.

The Hurricanes went down to 14 soon after, with Fineanganofo shown a yellow card for a high shot in the 52^nd minute. Malachi Wrampling-Alec and the Blues made the most of that one-man advantage, beating a couple of defenders with an impressive run close to the line.

Barrett converted the try to make it a nine-point game once again, but the Hurricanes all but wrapped up the win about 10 minutes later. Harkin raced away for his second of the night before Roigard dove over from close range.