2. Asafo Aumua – 8
Seemed to have a target set on Damian McKenzie with a couple of solid tackles and running over the top of the Chiefs 10. Rampaging run in build-up to Callum Harkin try.
3. Pasilio Tosi – 7
Played his role well with some dominant tackles and hit the ruck with intent. He was strong at the set piece and carried well.
4. Isaia Walker-Leawere – 7
Happy to take a few carries to settle things down when play got a bit frantic, made a heap of tackles and did some good work at the breakdown. He also put in a couple of surprisingly lovely kicks, but you know things are getting out of hand when the lock is attempting a cross-field kick to the winger.
5. Warner Dearns – 8
Rattled the Chiefs by putting pressure on their box kicks and lineout, and was a constant presence in the collision areas. He charged down kicks, took plenty of carries and disrupted the opposition throw. At this point halfbacks and hookers must hate to see him on a team sheet.
6. Devan Flanders – 7
Back into the starting side after returning from injury via the bench last week, Flanders was at his barnstorming best with ball in hand. He challenged the line early, before charging onto a perfect pass from Proctor to score a try in the second half. Got through plenty of work in a 55-minute shift.
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi – 7
He was active at the breakdown and in cleaning out the ruck, made plenty of tackles and took some tough carries into the teeth of the Chiefs’ defence. This is the sort of performance we’ve become accustomed to seeing from Kirifi.
The Hurricanes beat the Chiefs 60-5 in the final. Photo / Photosport
8. Peter Lakai – 8
Made some big defensive plays to hold Ollie Norris up over the line and recover to pick off a Samipeni Finau pass. He was damaging when he carried the ball into the Chiefs’ defensive line, which he did often.
9. Cam Roigard – 8
Had an issue or two with the wind early, but worked things out and began to use his kicking game smartly. He did not attack the line with ball in hand too often, but kept things moving nicely as the Hurricanes blew the Chiefs away early and had a couple of assists.
10. Ruben Love – 9
Controlled the game nicely and made good decisions throughout, while showing his finishing ability with footwork to leave Liam Coombes-Fabling clutching at air to score, before a diving finish in the corner in the second half. Named man of the match, he completely upstaged McKenzie and left no doubt that he’s ready for an opportunity to steer the ship at test level.
11. Fehi Fineanganofo – 8
Finally broke the single-season individual try-scoring record. Fineanganofo made the most of his chances with ball in hand and made no mistake with the try line in sight. A strong way to finish the campaign for the season’s breakout star.
12. Jordie Barrett – 10
You want your best players to stand up in big games, and Barrett towered over this one. Good touches early and great hustle to charge down an attempted McKenzie clearance early. Broke the line, kept the ball alive for Harkin try. Seemed to have a hand in everything the Hurricanes were doing and was rewarded with a try in the second half. Best player on the pitch.
13. Billy Proctor – 7
A solid all-around performance. Proctor had some crucial touches in the lead-up to tries and while he conceded a few turnovers, he also did some good work defensively. The All Blacks No 13 jersey seems hotly contested, but a Hurricanes 12-13 combo could certainly have some appeal.
14. Josh Moorby – 9
Scored two tries to tie Fineanganofo for the try-scoring record. Moorby had plenty of impact with ball in hand, beating defenders and making well over 100m. A call into the All Blacks’ squad would certainly not surprise after the season he’s had. Bonus point for his work holding the ball on the kicking tee.
Josh Moorby held the ball on the tee prior to Ruben Love’s conversions. Photo / Photosport
15. Callum Harkin – 8
He had a nice run and pass to put Fineanganofo away, showed strength to hold Norris up over the line, showed great hands to pick off a McKenzie pass close to his own line, then was on the spot for a Barrett offload and a try. The quiet contributor of the Hurricanes’ backline, Harkin has been steady all season whether it’s been with 10 or 15 on his back and this was more of the same – maybe even his best performance of the year.
Bench
16. Jacob Devery – 5
Aumua is a hard act to follow, especially in the sort of form he was in for the final, but Devery was solid albeit with limited opportunities.
17. Siale Lauaki – 6
Played the last 22 minutes and gave a good account of himself, particularly on the defensive end.
18. Tyrel Lomax – 5
Came into the contest for the final 30 minutes and was solid in his core areas, though missed a few tackles.
19. Brad Shields – 6
A solid shift off the bench for the only member of the team to have been a part of the 2016 title-winning run as well.
20. Brayden Iose – 6
Got stuck into his work in the collision areas and on defence with plenty of tackles, while he also got involved in the attack to set up a try.
21. Ere Enari – 6
Made a bunch of tackles and the attack didn’t slow down when he replaced Roigard in the 64th minute.
22. Jone Rova – 7
Had a few good carries, forced a turnover and scored a smartly taken try in a busy 12-minute cameo.
23. Kini Naholo – 7
He became a real asset off the bench for the Hurricanes in the back half of the season and continued in that trend in the final.
Chiefs
1. Ollie Norris – 5
Maintained a high work rate on both sides of the ball. While the Chiefs’ scrum struggled at times, he was up to the challenge head-to-head against Tosi, and he was among his side’s leading tacklers.
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho – 6
Had some issues at set pieces with a lineout disrupted and failed to hook a scrum feed which ultimately led to a messy turnover. In open play, he was strong with ball in hand and he got around the park well to try and make an impact at the ruck.
Chiefs hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho had some good carries in the loss. Photo / Photosport
3. Sione Ahio – 3
Had a mixed bag defensively as he got over the breakdown to force a penalty but missed a couple of tackles. Held his ground at the scrum, but exited after 22 minutes due to a head knock.
4. Josh Lord – 6
Lord was among the hardest workers on the pitch for the Chiefs, leading the game’s tackle count with 20, but did miss a key one on Harkin at the line. He also took a few carries – albeit with little punch behind them – and got in to clean out the ruck. Nothing that will show up on a highlights reel, but some good, honest work.
5. Tupou Vaa’i – 5
Another early exit, Vaa’i left the game just after halftime after a head knock suffered while making a tackle on Barrett. But even in just 46 minutes, Vaa’i was a busy performer as he tied for a team high in carries with 11 and made double-digit tackles.
6. Samipeni Finau – 5
Pinched a much-needed turnover at the breakdown early and showed some speed as he burst onto the ball to break the line and make plenty of ground – before passing to the other team. He had some good moments, but some forgettable ones in a mixed outing.
Samipeni Finau in stride against the Hurricanes. Photo / Photosport
7. Luke Jacobson – 5
Got around the ground well and worked hard at the ruck. He was effective at the breakdown early to force a turnover and made plenty of tackles.
8. Simon Parker – 6
A busy night defensively with 19 tackles and a turnover and stayed active in the collision areas. He put his hand up for plenty of carries to try and get the side moving in the right direction but was well contained.
9. Cortez Ratima – 2
Was rattled early with a kick charged down and a knock-on in a messy scrum play and never really settled into his work. The tempest swirling in the stadium probably did him no favours but he was far from him best.
10. Damian McKenzie – 2
You hate to see a bloke have a proper stinker in the final, but McKenzie did just that. Three restarts that handed over possession to the Hurricanes, missing touch from a penalty, one charged-down kick and a dropped ball, the veteran couldn’t get anything working for him.
It was a rough night for Damian McKenzie. Photo / Photosport
11. Kyren Taumoefolau – 3
Rarely sighted on attack, though made decent ground in his limited opportunities. Taumoefolau had a horrible time on defence trying to contain Moorby and missed some key tackles.
12. Quinn Tupaea – 5
Had a lot of traffic come his way and dealt with it for the most part, though may shudder at the thought of having to try to bring down Aumua in full flight again any time soon. Earned a turnover for his side and tried to make something happen with his carrying, though was rarely able to. A muted end to a fantastic individual season.
13. Kyle Brown – 2
Made little impact in his 50 minutes on the pitch.
14. Leroy Carter – 4
Seemed the most likely member of the Chiefs backline to spark something and while he made good ground with ball in hand, that didn’t really turn into anything for his side. He was made to work hard defensively, making and missing plenty of tackles.
15. Liam Coombes-Fabling – 3
Missed a few tackles, including being left in the dust by Love in the first half. Like Carter, he had some impact with ball in hand but he was limited to just four carries. He made a couple of kicks to try and relieve pressure on his team, but the Hurricanes just kept coming.
Bench
16. Brodie McAlister – 4
Played the last 25 minutes and had some impact on the defensive end to force a turnover. Perhaps unlucky not to be awarded a try late in the second half, though Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi crossed a couple of phases later.
17. Jared Proffit – 4
Played the last 30 minutes with his involvement largely limited to the collision areas.
The Chiefs lost their fourth final in a row. Photo / Photosport
18. George Dyer – 4
Came into the contest early following Ahio’s injury and while he hit the ruck with intent, he struggled at times at the scrum.
19. Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi – 5
Was busy defensively after replacing Vaa’i early in the second half and showed strength to force his way over the tryline late in the contest.
20. Kaylum Boshier – 3
Played a 17-minute cameo at the end with limited impact.
21. Xavier Roe – 4
Entered with 25 minutes left and the game well out of reach, though did assist on his side’s only try.
22. Josh Jacomb – 3
Called upon for the last 30 minutes left and the result a foregone conclusion, yet was still kicking the ball to the opposition. Had a couple of runs but was well contained.
23. Reon Paul – 3
Much the same as Jacomb, minus the kicking. Limited impact with ball in hand, but made a few tackles.
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.