Super Rugby Pacific: Wallace Sititi scores matchwinning try in extra time as Chiefs beat Hurricanes

Saturday, 18 April 2026

At FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton: Chiefs 22 (Simon Parker try 48min, Daniel Sinkinson try 72min, Wallace Sititi try 84min (extra time); Damian McKenzie 2 con, pen) Hurricanes 17 (Josh Moorby try 8min, Peter Lakai try 37min, Asafo Aumua try 61min; Ruben Love con). HT: 3-12

All Blacks flanker Wallace Sititi marked his return to Super Rugby with the matchwinning try in extra-time as the Chiefs pipped the Hurricanes in a thriller.

With 84 minutes on the clock, Sititi reacted the quickest when Damian McKenzie’s drop-goal attempt was charged by Hurricanes lock Warner Dearns.

Sititi won the race to the deflected ball to power over the line and give the Chiefs a golden-point victory.

In a hard-fought game between two well-matched sides, the Chiefs arguably deserved the win on the back of some X-factor moments by McKenzie, Kyren Taumoefolau and Leroy Carter.

McKenzie won his personal duel with Hurricanes No 10 Ruben Love.

The Chiefs were hit by several late withdrawals, with All Blacks flanker Samipeni Finau scratched from the No 6 jersey.

That prompted a reshuffle in the loose forwards as Luke Jacobson moved to the No 8 jersey in his 100th game.

The Hurricanes were playing into a decent breeze in the first half and signalled their intentions early with some powerful carries up the middle.

The ladder leaders also showed their clinical edge by scoring with their first real chance as in-form winger Josh Moorby finished in the right-hand corner and gave Chiefs midfielder Quinn Tupaea a mouthful for good measure.

The Hurricanes’ lineout suffered some early wobbles as the Chiefs competed strongly, but the visitors won all the key breakdown battles.

Front-rowers Asafo Aumua and Xavier Numia were particularly effective over the ball, while halfback Cam Roigard also chipped in with a clean turnover.

As a result, the Chiefs struggled to get their attack out of second gear and it took them almost 30 minutes to register their first points - a penalty by McKenzie.

The Hurricanes’ defence answered every question asked of it in the first half as Du’Plessis Kirifi, Peter Lakai and Jordie Barrett built a yellow brick wall in the centre of the field.

Barrett was fired up by the Chiefs’ holding tactics at the breakdown and was on high alert all evening to shut down any space for Tupaea.

It was fitting that the impressive Lakai scored the Hurricanes’ second try just before halftime, although the initial momentum was provided by Aumua with a powerful run from a lineout move.

In the battle of the All Blacks hookers, Aumua won an unanimous decision against Samisoni Taukei’aho and Lakai’s try gave the Hurricanes a handy 12-3 lead at the break with the promise of the breeze at their backs in the second half.

But the Hurricanes paid the price for a sloppy start to the second half and a number of unforced errors opened the door for the Chiefs.

Simon Parker barged over from close range as the momentum of the game swung behind the home side, who injected Sititi into the fray after 53 minutes.

The Hurricanes switched tactics, going to the boot in an attempt to use the wind advantage, but they lacked accuracy and looked far more comfortable when they held on to the ball.

When they returned to that recipe they pushed out to a 17-10 lead. Aumua powered over from close range in the 61st minute after multiple phases deep inside Chiefs territory.

Big lock Dearns, arguably the best signing of the Super Rugby season, then won a crucial lineout steal for the Hurricanes close to their own line to repel the Chiefs.

Ruben Love then turned the screws on the Chiefs with a smart tactical kick to pin them inside their own 22m line, but the home side engineered a try out of nothing to draw level.

Hurricanes replacement Jone Rova was guilty of an ill-advised offload and the Chiefs pounced.

Leroy Carter burst past multiple Hurricanes defenders and offloaded superbly to replacement Daniel Sinkinson to score under the posts.

That try sent the game into extra time and despite playing into the wind, McKenzie, Taumoefolau and Sititi combined superbly to ultimately set up Sititi’s matchwinner.