Hurricanes v Chiefs Stat Attack

The Hurricanes emerge from the tunnel to play in a recent home match. Photo: Kinetic Images.

In association with Hurricanes statistics compiler Peter Marriott, the Stat Attack returns in 2026. Facts and figures from the Hurricanes’ defeat to the Chiefs in Hamilton below.

Round 10 v Chiefs:  Lost 17-22 (a.e.t.)

The Hurricanes have played the Chiefs 48 times for 24 wins, 22 losses and two draws. They have played more matches against the Chiefs than they have against any other side. (Crusaders 47, Blues and Highlanders (45).

The Hurricanes and the Chiefs were tied at 17-17 at the conclusion of regular play which sent the teams into Golden Point. They were given an extra 10 minutes and the first side to score points would be affirmed as the winner. The match was decided in the fifth minute of extra time (84.32) when a drop goal attempt by Damian McKenzie was partially charged down and the loose ball fell to Wallace Sititi who ran and dived over the line for the winning try.

The Hurricanes have now been involved in five matches which have gone to Golden Point. They have won just once (against the Reds in 2024), lost three (to the Crusaders in 2021, Moana Pasifika in 2022 and the Chiefs in 2026) and drawn one (against the Force on 19 April 2025: one day short of a year ago).

Only four Hurricanes players namely Asafo Aumua, Ruben Love, Xavier Numia and Cameron Roigard have been involved in all five Golden Point matches. Roigard actually made his Super Rugby debut in the first instance: against the Crusaders at Wellington in 2021.

The Hurricanes started the 10 minutes of extra time with the side which had been on the field at the end of regular play. However, Cameron Roigard was substituted after one minute by Ereatara Enari who had not made an appearance at that stage.

The Chiefs have hosted the Hurricanes 22 times: once in Rotorua (1996), once in New Plymouth (2015) and 20 times in Hamilton. The hosts have won 12 matches to the Hurricanes eight. There have been two draws: in 2011 and 2019.

The Hurricanes and Chiefs went into this match respectively in first and second place in the Standings. The roles have now been reversed with the Chiefs now at number one and the Hurricanes dropping down from the top position for the first time in six weeks. Both sides have the same number of points (31) but the Chiefs got the nod for first place for several reasons I find difficult to fathom.

The Hurricanes have scored 17 points in 18 matches including two against the Chiefs, both of which they lost.

Overall they have won just three whilst losing 14 and drawing one. That draw was last year against the Force in Perth, when during 10 minutes of extra time in Golden Point, neither side was able to score any points.

On the other hand the Hurricanes have conceded 22 points on 15 occasions. This was their first loss when conceding that number of points.

The Hurricanes defeat brought to an end a run of five wins in succession in 2026.

For the seventh time in their eight matches this year, the Hurricanes made no attempt to kick a penalty goal.

The Hurricanes made just one change to their starting line-up to that which took the field in the previous match against the Blues. That change was in the forwards.

Overall the Hurricanes have used 36 players in their eight matches played with Fehi Fineanganofo (#11) and

Jordie Barrett (#12) having started in the same position in every match. Devan Flanders and Josh Moorby have also started in every match but in at least two different positions.

The Hurricanes brought up exactly 50 tries for the season. This is the 14th year (of 31) in which they have reached the milestone. Their best-ever year was in 2017 when they scored a competition record 97 tries.

Those 50 tries are the most scored by any side this year after 10 weeks as is the aggregate of 323 points. The Hurricanes are still leading with the fewest tries conceded (20) and fewest points conceded (139).

Josh Moorby scored his 26th try in his 46th appearance for the Hurricanes. It was his second try against the Chiefs both of which have been scored in Hamilton.

Moorby is still the only player to have been on the field for every minute played by the Hurricanes so far in 2026 (645 minutes).

Peter Lakai’s try was his 12th in his 44th match. It was also his second against the Chiefs.

Asafo Aumua scored his 18th try in his 83rd match. It was his fourth against the Chiefs. Three of them have been scored in Hamilton.

Ruben Love kicked just two points to take his overall tally in 48 matches to 157 points. Seventeen of them have been scored against the Chiefs.

Warner Dearns played his first match against the Chiefs.

Isaia Walker-Leawere wore the #4 jersey for the first time since his appearance against the Fijian Drua at Wellington in 2022.  Walker-Leawere normally wears the # 5 jersey: 54 of his 60 starts have been in that jersey. Walker-Leawere turned 29 two days before the match.

Jordie Barrett is currently going through a lean patch without scoring. He has failed to score any points in his last four matches which is the longest he has gone pointless.

On three previous occasions he has gone three matches without a point and that includes his first three matches for the Hurricanes in 2017 and the last three in 2024, prior to him leaving to play for Leinster in Ireland.

Tevita Mafileo, who went on as a replacement, played seven matches for the Chiefs in 2019. His final match for that side was against the Hurricanes.

The Chiefs first try scorer, Simon Parker, and Daniel Sinkinson, both scored their first tries against the Hurricanes.

Sinkinson had previously appeared in six matches for the Hurricanes: in 2023 (three matches), 2024 (two) and in 2025 (one).

The winning try scorer Wallace Sititi also scored against the Hurricanes at Hamilton in 2024.

With his first kick of the match Damian McKenzie became the first player to score 200 Super Rugby points against the Hurricanes. He started the match on 198 and with seven in this match took his total in all

appearances against the Hurricanes to 205. His total is made up of three tries, 38 conversions and 38 penalties.

The Crusaders Dan Carter is in second place on the list for most points against the Hurricanes with 193.

McKenzie’s total is made up of 87 points scored in Hamilton and 118 in Wellington.

Captain Luke Jacobson made his 100th appearance for the Chiefs. He is the 14th player to reach this milestone.

He started his Super Rugby career in 2018. He has played 14 times against the Hurricanes.

Jacobson was due to celebrate his 29th birthday two days after the match on Monday 20.

In addition to Daniel Sinkinson, Jared Proffit, who came off the bench in this match, had made one appearance for the Hurricanes in 2022.

Referee Dr. Ben O’Keeffe was in charge of his 17th match involving the Hurricanes. It was his third Hurricanes/

Chiefs match. O’Keeffe also had the whistle for the Round 3 match against the Fijian Drua which the Hurricanes lost too, coincidentally by five points.

The Hurricanes have now played 430 Super Rugby matches. They have won 249 (57.9%), lost 174 and drawn seven.

After having finally broken through to reach a 58.0% winning success rate for the first time in their last match against the Blues, the Hurricanes have slipped back into the 57s!

The Chiefs have played 436 Super Rugby matches. They have won 247 (56.7%), lost 179 and drawn 10.