Jono Gibbes reflects on 'devastating' 55-point final defeat

Chiefs head coach Jono Gibbes has provided his honest assessment of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific final, where his side was blown out of the park, 60-5, by the Hurricanes.

From minute one, Gibbes’ side were behind the eight-ball as the table-topping Hurricanes ran in nine tries to the Chiefs’ one.

The Hamilton-based franchise has now lost the last four straight Super Rugby Pacific finals, while the 2026 defeat is the first under Gibbes, who replaced Clayton McMillan at the end of the 2025 season.

The Super Rugby Pacific final winning margin was the competition’s largest since the Bulls’ 44-point winning margin over the Chiefs back in 2009’s Super 14 final.

It took the Chiefs until the 75th minute to score their first point of the final, as replacement lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi powered through two Hurricanes defenders close to the posts.

Speaking to Sky Sports’ Jeff Wilson post-match, the 49-year-old head coach reacted to what was an incredible performance by the Hurricanes.

“Look, I think you look at the scoreboard, there’s no controversy,” Gibbes said after the 60-5 defeat.

“The better team won, the team that mastered these conditions, we found them extremely difficult. They looked really comfortable and we couldn’t get a bounce of the ball.

“They made all their luck. We were inaccurate. They were precise, and that’s a fair reflection for tonight. Really disappointing 80 minutes.

“So, right now, in this moment, it’s really devastating. And then, in a few hours we get to process what I think’s been a really enjoyable season for the group, but yeah, obviously right now we’re dealing with that.”

While feeling for his players, Gibbes is quick to point out that he’s disappointed in the way his team performed for their supporters.

“That’s right. And that’s probably the disappointing thing, we had a number of supporters made the trip down, and it’s disappointing,” the Chiefs head coach told Sky Sport.

“We are disappointed that we didn’t represent them tonight as well as we could, and how it’s been shown all year, but look, that’s it’s about what happens on the night, and unfortunately we were clearly second, no photo finish, and it’s devastating right now.”