The Hurricanes eventually drew away from the Queensland Reds to win their Super Rugby game 34-15 in Brisbane.
Hurricanes players Vince Aso and Ardie Savea celebrate a try. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Hurricanes led 14-12 at half time and it took a couple of late tries to the Barrett brothers to move clear of the Reds.
Unfortunetly for the Hurricanes they lost loose forward Ardie Savea to a calf injury late in the game.
Australia's five Super Rugby teams have not beaten a side from New Zealand this season.
Julian Savea and TJ Perenara scored in the first half for the defending champions. Vince Aso claimed a try after the break while brothers Jordie and Beauden Barrett crossed over late to confirm the bonus-point win for the Hurricanes, who also had three tries ruled out by the television match official.
It was the fifth straight loss for the Reds who scored through Chris Kuridrani and Scott Higginbotham after a yellow card to Hurricanes' Ngani Laumape to trail 14-12 at halftime.
Reds coach Nick Stiles hailed the effort of his starting 15 and but slammed his second-half reserves for failing to match their impact.
"It takes 23 guys in modern-day rugby to win football games," he said.
"I thought our bench would be a really good contributor for us but I was just really disappointed with their performance when they came on and I told them in the change rooms.
"Those guys come on fresh, they've got to come on and contribute and it wasn't good enough."
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said credit had to be paid to the Reds for hanging in as long as they did.
"They're a tough side to beat at home," he said.
"Our changing room is probably more dinged and more tired than I can remember in the last two and a half years. The boys are spent."
The Hurricanes now host the Waratahs at Westpac Stadium on Friday night.
