The Hurricanes have delivered a scintillating second-half performance to brush aside the Blues 57-21 to set up a Super Rugby Pacific final against the Chiefs.
The top-seeded Hurricanes, who will host next week's decider in Wellington, were heavy favourites on Saturday night, but a spirited Blues side gave them all they could handle in a bruising first half and were in the hunt trailing 19-14.
However, the hosts were a different proposition after the break and ran in six more tries, with Kini Naholo's score to bring up the 50-point mark the best of the bunch.
"We knew this Blues side were going to come down for a hell of a fight and there's so much quality in this side," Hurricanes centre Jordie Barrett, who crossed for the opening try, said.
"They haven't had the best of times the last month or so, but they were always going to challenge us."
The Hurricanes' sole Super Rugby title came 10 years ago and Barrett said they were determined to end that drought.
"This particular group have had a lot of hurt, there's a few scars there so we're just massively grateful we've put ourselves in this position to play at home next week against a red-hot Chiefs side," Barrett added.
"So it's going to be a big week."
That is just sensational...🤯
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Hurricanes scrum-half Cam Roigard created the opening for Barrett's try in the third minute.
The Blues were then dealt a major blow when backs AJ Lam and Caleb Clarke failed Head Injury Assessments (HIA) and were lost for the remainder of the match.
The Hurricanes went back in front when Ruben Love kicked for touch from a penalty and Du'Plessis Kirifi drove over from the lineout.
Despite being heavy underdogs the Blues showed plenty of character and a superb Payton Spencer try brought them level, with Beauden Barrett again converting to make it 14-12.
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The home side got their third try of the half when prop Xavier Numia crashed over and Love converted to send the hosts in leading 19-14 at the half.
Three quick tries from Roigard, Josh Moorby and Asafo Aumua blew out the lead to 38-14.
The Hurricanes scored again in the 65th minute when Ereatara Enari found a gap to scoot over, before a rampaging Naholo finished off a terrific team move for their eighth try of the game.
Blues replacement Eli Oudenryn got one back with a burst of pace to gather and score late on, but the hosts put the icing on the cake with Moorby scoring their ninth try of the match in the last minute.
