RECAP: The Chiefs have cruised home for a 42-14 win over the NSW Waratahs in Hamilton.
Dan McKellar's side came into the contest on a high after last week's drought-breaking win in Canberra, looking to do the same thing in New Zealand.
Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.
But the Chiefs were intent on revenge from last year's defeat as centre Quinn Tupaea crossed for a double.
He was joined in kind by Samipeni Finau, delivering a brutal shot to go with a second half as they were on fire all afternoon.
Winger Kyren Taumoefolau also scored twice as the Chiefs leap into third on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder.
FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION IN THE LIVE BLOG BELOW OR THE MATCH CENTRE
Chiefs 42-14: Kyren Taumoefolau seals the win after causing the turnover on Triston Reilly.
The winger flies up and crunches the outside centre, collecting the loose ball and racing 60 metres for the try.
Chiefs 37-14: The Chiefs nearly strike from a tighthead scrum as Kyle Brown breaks the Waratahs open.
They enter the 22 but the assistant ref's flag is up and the Waratahs will get the lineout.
Chiefs 37-14: Pete Samu dives over the line for an easy try after several strong runs from Folau Fainga'a.
The Chiefs are calling for obstruction but it's waved off as a bad defensive read.
Chiefs 37-7: The Waratahs get a rare scrum penalty as they look for some late points in this contest.
The hosts get the throw in at lineout time 15 metres out, winning another penalty as they go back to their scrum.
Chiefs 37-7: Andrew Kellaway tries to spark the Waratahs as he produces a nice break from inside his own 22.
He finds Jake Gordon as they spread wide, with the ball ending up over the sideline a few passes later.
Chiefs 37-7: Samipeni Finau gets a well-deserved try as the Chiefs' tight five goes to work.
Tupou Vaa'i puts Ollie Norris through a hole, with Finau crashing through the line a phase later.
Chiefs 30-7: The Chiefs pressure and pace is insane at the moment as they keep looking a threat.
Charlie Gamble's turnovers are stopping the bleeding for now but the hosts are refusing to let up.
Chiefs 30-7: The Waratahs are creating half chances but are no match for the Chiefs.
Andrew Kellaway is bundled into touch 22 metres out after Samipeni Finau sparked the hosts minutes earlier.
The Waratahs then throw the ball over the touchline as they try to find Max Jorgensen, who;s been in everything.
Chies 30-7: Quinn Tuapea gets his brace as the centre proves too tough to stop from close.
It's a repeat of the first half as the Chiefs work their way through the Waratahs and eventually cross through the centre.
Chiefs 23-7: Dan McKellar has reacted at the break, calling on Wallabies duo Jake Gordon and Folau Fainga'a to start the second half.
The Waratahs need an immediate impact if they are to mount a comeback, camped back on their line again as Charlie Gamble wins a much needed turnover.
Chiefs 23-7: Josh Jacomb caps off the dominant half for the Chiefs with another three-pointer.
It comes after Sid Harvey is isolated at ruck-time as he searches for space, allowing the flyhalf to kick his second penalty of the night.
Chiefs 20-7: Superb all-round play from Quinn Tupaea gives the Chiefs a vital response right before half-time.
The centre creates the opportunity with a classy break before finding the space close to the line several phases later for the try.
Chiefs 13-7: Kyren Taumoefolau almost creates another five-pointer, but his pass to Kalyum Boshier hits the deck on the Waratahs 22.
The Waratahs then counter themselves through Teddy Wilson and Sid Harvey, with Harvey put into touch on halfway.
Chiefs 13-7: A classy try from the Waratahs is finished off by Sid Harvey as the visitors hit right back for a crucial try.
The Waratahs have several penalty advantages and eventually go from wing-to-wing as Max Jorgensen throws the looping ball for Harvey to dive over.
Chiefs 13-0: This time there's no stopping Samisoni Taukei'aho as the mountain of pressure finally delivers for the hosts.
The hooker gets down low and dives over after a controlled short-range attack sees the Chiefs grind down the Waratahs defence.
Chiefs 8-0: Samisoni Taukei'aho dives over the line but there's no time for celebrating as James Doleman halts the play.
The Waratahs overthrow a five metre lineout straight into the hooker's hands but Doleman pings the Chiefs for closing the gap.
Chiefs 8-0: The Waratahs keep hanging on as they deal with an onslaught of Chiefs pressure.
This time, Xavier Roe is held up after he goes quick from a short arm penalty and then Roe nearly puts on a grubber assist for Kyren Taumoefolau, trickling into touch.
Chiefs 8-0: The Waratahs are sticking in this game as they try to hold out the Chiefs' powerful pack.
There's been two scrum penalties against them early on but they respond by swimming through and spoiling their rolling maul, only to concede another scrum penalty.
Max Jorgensen then comes up with a perfect try-saver on Emoni Narawa to dump him into touch two metres from the line.
Chiefs 8-0: An easy three points for Josh Jacomb as the Chiefs extend their lead further.
Jacomb slots it over from right in front, 25 metres out, after an offside call against the Tahs.
Chiefs 5-0: The Waratahs keep finding space on the flank as the outside backs combine nicely.
Sid Harvey just can't find Pete Samu as the ball goes forward but promising moments for the visitors if they can fix their handling.
The Chiefs produce a promising attack from the corresponding scrum as the Waratahs rally to dump them into the touch just outside the 22, although it's come off Jorgensen last.
Chiefs 5-0: Kyren Taumoefolau nabs his opening try of the season after a strong scrum platform gives them the advantage.
Xavier Roe stabs the kick in behind and Sid Harvey tries to knock it over the dead-ball and misses, allowing the winger to score an easy try.
Real scrappy start to this game as both teams are struggling to hang onto the ball.
There have been four handling errors in the first eight minutes of this contest.
The Waratahs are trying to make their early field position work as the game descends into a kicking battle.
However, a costly penalty has camped the Chiefs inside their half, ready to attack.
Great defence from the Waratahs forces the handling error as the hosts continue their rocky start.
Matt Philip collects the ball from the kick-off and this game is underway in Hamilton.
An early territory win for the Waratahs after a Chiefs mistake, with Max Jorgensen making a half break but the Waratahs can't make the pass stick and cough it up on the 22.
Tries: Taumoefolau, Taukei'aho, Tupaea 2, Finau
Cons: Jacomb 4/6
Pens: Jacomb 2/2
Tries: Harvey, Samu
Cons: Harvey 2/2
Pens:
Welcome to Rugby.com.au's coverage of the Chiefs-Waratahs contest in Hamilton.
Conditions are slightly overcast at FMG Stadium Wailato, but it looks to be a dry deck for this match.
Huge game for the Waratahs as they look to keep in touch with the top six before next week's bye.
CHIEFS (1-15): Ollie Norris, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Reuben O'Neill, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa'i, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson (c), Kaylum Boshier, Xavier Roe, Josh Jacomb, Kyren Taumoefolau, Quinn Tupaea, Leroy Carter, Emoni Narawa, Liam Coombes-Fabling
Replacements: Brodie McAlister, Jared Proffit, George Dyer, Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Simon Parker, Cortez Ratima, Kyle Brown, Daniel Sinkinson
WARATAHS (1-15): Tom Lambert, Ethan Dobbins, Dan Botha, Matt Philip (c), Miles Amatosero, Clem Halaholo, Charlie Gamble, Pete Samu, Teddy Wilson, Jack Debreczeni, Max Jorgensen, Joey Walton, Triston Reilly, Andrew Kellaway, Sid Harvey
Replacements: Folau Fainga'a, Jack Barrett, Siosifa Amone, Angus Blyth, Jamie Adamson, Jake Gordon, Jack Bowen, George Poolman
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Referees: Marcus Playle, Fraser Hannon
TMO: Glenn Newman
The Chiefs' clash with the Waratahs will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport.
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 4:30 pm with kickoff expected at 5:05 pm.
