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Wallace Sititi game-winner ends Hurricanes' streak in super point thriller

at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND - APRIL 18: Wallace Sititi of the Chiefs charges forward during the round 10 Super Rugby match between Chiefs and Hurricanes at FMG Stadium Waikato, on April 18, 2026, in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
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A packed crowd were treated to an extra-time thriller at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton, where Wallace Sititi’s 84th-minute try secured a 22-17 victory for the Chiefs over the Hurricanes.

Both teams had their chances, but it was Jono Gibbes’ side that came out on top in Hamilton.

Damian McKenzie’s drop goal was partially charged by Warner Dearns, which fell into Sititi’s hands as he powered over the line.

The opening half an hour was a classic case of finals fever, with both teams making mistakes and errors of judgment in the middle of the field.

Both teams showed signs of nerves early on, with the Chiefs having one clearing kick charged down, while the Hurricanes’ attack struggled to get going.

It was only when the away side’s forward pack started to make it over the advantage line that they really started to threaten.

Clark Laidlaw’s side opened the scoring minutes later, after the Chiefs gave away a needless penalty out in front. The Hurricanes forwards set the platform at scrum time, before Cameron Roigard linked up with Billy Proctor and Josh Moorby out wide to take a 5-0 lead.

Attack

213
Passes
136
152
Ball Carries
109
403m
Post Contact Metres
217m
6
Line Breaks
3

Chiefs first-five Damian McKenzie looked to have put Leroy Carter through a gap in the 12th minute, but the offload didn’t stick.

The Hurricanes were beneficiaries of some ill-discipline by the Chiefs around the park, while the league leaders also proved a handful at the breakdown.

Most of the opening 30 minutes were spent in and around the halfway line, as the first and second-placed teams got a feel for the contest.

All Black prop Pasilio Tosi was caught disrupting the Chiefs’ ball at the breakdown, offering up an opportunity for the home side to finally get on the scoreboard.

McKenzie made no mistake from a relatively routine kick at goal for his standards, closing the gap to 5-3 with ten minutes to go in the first half.

The Wellington-based franchise showcased a real intent at the breakdown, often causing the home side problems.
Their second try of the evening came off the back of exactly that, earning a penalty in the 38th minute at the breakdown.

The Hurricanes forward pack battled away with one-off runners, but Roigard saw the space on the right, firing a ball to Peter Lakai, who went in untouched under the posts.

Ruben Love converted Lakai’s try to extend the away side’s lead to nine.

HT: 12-3 to the Hurricanes.

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Gibbes’ halftime chat seemed to galvanise the home side, starting the second half on the front foot inside the Hurricanes’ half.

The Chiefs had multiple bites at the cherry close to the line, being held up once, before finally breaching the hard-nosed defence of the Hurricanes to score through Simon Parker.

McKenzie added the extras, closing the gap to only two after 50 minutes.

For close to five minutes, the Hurricanes then threw everything at the home side as they pushed for an important try to get back in the clear.

Some nice backline interplay from Callum Harkin, Ruben Love, and Jordie Barrett threatened the Chiefs’ defence, before Asafo Aumua got his mitts onto the ball close to the line.

Aumua noticed replacement halfback Xavier Roe slightly offside, taking full advantage of the opportunity, proving too big, too strong, close to the line.

Love’s conversion was agonisingly close, keeping the game a one-score margin.

Defence

130
Tackles Made
195
23
Tackles Missed
28
85%
Tackle Completion %
87%

With just under ten minutes to go, Wallace Sititi picked up the ball in open space before finding his winger, Leroy Carter.

Carter stepped left, stepped right, waiting for the perfect moment to offload the ball to replacement outside back Daniel Sinkinson, who was in close support.

Sinkinson then pinned his ears back towards the line, going in under the posts to tie the game at 17-all.

Both teams had half-chances close to the final whistle, but it wasn’t to be as the game headed to extra time.

The Chiefs had a couple of small line breaks in extra time, before setting up for a drop goal just outside the 22-metre line.

McKenzie was in space, but Dearns’ charge down only reached Sititi’s hands metres from the line, to end a thrilling contest at FMG Stadium Waikato.

FT: 22-17 to the Chiefs.

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Comments

7 Comments
B
BH 26 days ago

Chiefs turned the game around with their excellent kick-returns and counter-attacks by the backline. Carter and Taumoefolau clearly outshone their opposites and broke the game open on multiple occasions late in the game. The Chiefs bench stood tall despite missing a large number of key players.


Canes really should’ve had more points on the board after dominating the 1st half and the referee giving them some questionable decisions. Then late in the 2nd half they kicked too much ball away, missed way too many tackles and then didn’t play smartly with the game in their favour at 17-10.


Then Chiefs had all the momentum and deserved to win. Excellent game that is a good preview for the types of games we’ll see in the finals.

S
SR 26 days ago

Wallace Sititi turned that game around. World class young player great to see him back

W
WJ 26 days ago

Two even teams. Maybe the Canes got excited having the wind in the second half and kicked more than needed. Some good lessons and they have a game in hand so still control home advantage, although a tough run home.

These two don’t play again until if/when they make the finals. Would be a great final if it happens.

H
Hurrifan 26 days ago

Canes game to lose… not too many warning signs from them… and ref seemed determined to ruin their day

A
Andrew Nichols 26 days ago

The same ref everyone thinks hates them…who refd two Chiefs finals failures…sent off Cane…

S
SB 27 days ago

Always enjoyable to watch “the best referee in the world” in action.


Simon Parker reminding everyone why he was the one called up to the All Blacks last year. Nice to see Sititi back and that was an awesome moment.


The Canes will be annoyed with themselves, poor decision making at the end when they had the lead cost them.

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