The Chiefs have claimed the minor premiership and all-important home field advantage for the finals with a 41-24 win over the Highlanders.
Tupou Vaa’i was the unlikely hat-trick hero as they locked up top spot in a tough win away from home in Dunedin.
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The ACT Brumbies and Crusaders were watching on from Canberra, hoping for a misstep to jump into first, but the Chiefs were intent on locking up top spot early.
A perfect chip in behind by Damian McKenzie sparked the visitors, with lovely hands putting Samipeni Finau over for the opener after just five minutes.
Towering lock Tupou Vaa’i then made a big impact on the game, scoring a quick-fire double to give them a 19-0 lead after 14 minutes.
The Highlanders were rattled and it took co-captains Ethan de Groot and Timoci Tavatavanawai to shift the contest.
De Groot powered over from short for their first points and then a yellow card to prop Reuben O’Neill left the visitors scrambling to finish the half.
This is where inspirational centre Tavatavanawai lit up Forysth Barr Stadium, spinning through the defence and slamming it down to celebrate his new deal in style.
The break came at the perfect time for the Chiefs, who replicated their first-half efforts after Xavier Roe sprinted down the short side to score after a strong rolling maul.
It allows them to control the second half and secure the win via McKenzie's boot and a try to replacement Manasa Mataele.
Sam Gilbert gave The Zoo something to celebrate with a late try in his final game for the club.
A desperate covering tackle from Cortez Ratima stopped opposite number Adam Lennox as the Highlanders pushed hard to avoid the wooden spoon.
But it was too little, too late as the visitors closed out the win and the minor premiership with Vaa’i’s third try of the night.
The only concern for the Chiefs will be the fitness of centre Quinn Tupaea after he reeled away from a tackle in pain.
Tupaea was left clutching his face midway through the first half and left the field on a stretcher after several minutes being attended to.
Chiefs 41 (Tries: Vaa'i 3, Finau, Roe, Mataele; Cons: McKenzie 4; Pens: McKenzie) def Highlanders 24 (Tries: de Groot, Tavatavanawai, Gilbert; Cons: Millar 2, Gilbert; Pens: Millar)
HIGHLANDERS: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Jonah Lowe, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Taniela Filimore, 10 Cam Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Sean Withy, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Tai Cribb, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (co-captain). Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Michael Loft, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Sam Gilbert, 23 Thomas Umaga-Jensen.
CHIEFS: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (captain), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Reuben O’Neill, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Jared Proffit. Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 George Dyer, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Manasa Mataele.
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe Assistant referees: Marcus Playle, Jackson Henshaw TMO: Glenn Newman
