Chiefs fans Jordan Carter (left), Shaun Wills and Jordan Wise were elated to be at the Super Rugby final at Waikato Stadium. Photo / Michael Craig
Chiefs fans Jordan Carter (left), Shaun Wills and Jordan Wise were elated to be at the Super Rugby final at Waikato Stadium. Photo / Michael Craig
Chiefs fans earned their red, yellow and black stripes as they roared for their heroes to win the Super Rugby final last night. Cowbells rang in delight as the Chiefs rallied to run down a deficit and take the title for the second year in a row.
The parochial WaikatoStadium crowd was highly anxious as the Chiefs trailed into the last quarter but elation exploded with a try in the 64th minute to Robbie Robinson.
Aaron Cruden slotted the conversion to take the lead at last, 24-22. That lead crept ahead with a Cruden penalty goal a few minutes later and they held on to win 27-22.
The Hamilton fire service got behind the Chiefs, too, with a fire engine proudly decked in the Mooloo colours as it drove down Te Rapa Rd ahead of kick-off.
Season ticketholder Whitley Byford said she would be back at the box office for another pass to all next year's games: "I'm loving it!"
Jordan Carter, 21, Shaun Wills, 19, and Jordan Wise drove up from Napier for the game, and were resplendent in their Mooloo-coloured boiler suits.
Image 1 of 10: Chiefs fans show their support before the Super Rugby final match between the Chiefs and the Brumbies at Waikato Stadium. Photo / Getty Images
The lads said the highway from Cambridge to Hamilton was packed with Chiefs fans.
Wills said he had been a Chiefs supporter "ever since my Mum got pregnant with me".
The faithful erupted with chants of "Chiefs, Chiefs, Chiefs" as the defending champs ran on to their home turf, accompanied by fireworks and booming fireballs hot enough to feel in the packed stands.
It wasn't easy standing out among rugby's most colourful crowd but local lads Justin Gellatly and mate Joe Wright turned heads with their dazzling gold bowler hats. Elsewhere, supporters donned face paint and red, black and yellow afro wigs.
The mood grew more subdued as the Brumbies raced to a 9-0 lead. But the raucous Chiefs support returned as the local team drew even.
In another twist, local fans were left shell shocked by a surprise Brumbies interception try just before half time.
The rollercoaster was all part of the excitement for diehard Chiefs fans such as Aucklander Lee Callaghan and her nephew Blair Callaghan.
The Callaghans came to the final with a group of 23. Lee, a long-time season ticketholder, has travelled from Auckland to attend every single home game.
"We've been supporting them ever since there were only 2000 in the stands."
The Callaghans said the atmosphere at Waikato Stadium was unbeatable.
"We are the envy of the Super XV," Lee said as she gazed happily around at the colourful crowd.
"We must have a big shout out to everybody in the Chiefs franchise that supports us," co-captain Craig Clarke acknowleged after the final whistle.
