NSW seized top spot on the Super 14 table with a record-breaking 43-9 victory over the Blues on a night of milestones for the Waratahs at Aussie Stadium.

The Waratahs defied wet conditions to produce a pointscoring blitz to leap above the Crusaders with an emphatic bonus-point victory over the talented but unpredictable Blues, in the process sending a clear warning to their 2006 title rivals.

The 34-point-drubbing - inspired by another man-of-the-match performance from Peter Hewat - was NSW's biggest win over the Blues in a decade of Super rugby and the scoreline was also the most one-sided in 11 games between the two teams since the competition began in 1996.

Hewat, moved from the wing to fullback this week to make way for the return of Lote Tuqiri from Commonwealth Games duty, was even more influential than in his two previous man-of-the-match displays this season.

The 27-year-old contributed 28 points from a brilliant solo try, four conversions and five penalty goals in a flawless display with the boot.

His try in the 63rd minute came from his own kick and regather and helped secure the all-important bonus point for the Waratahs in their most impressive performance of the year.

Hewat's efforts also helped him surpass Marty Roebuck as NSW's second-highest all-time pointscorer.

He now has 359 in total, second only to Matt Burke's incredible tally of 1,172 points for the Waratahs.

In the only downer for the Waratahs, star flyhalf Mat Rogers was forced from the field in the second half with suspected broken ribs and he is likely to miss at least two matches.

NSW coach Ewen McKenzie all but conceded his chief playmaker would miss next week's clash with the Cheetahs, with Rogers to have scans on Saturday and facing up to a month on the sidelines if the results don't go his way.

But not even Rogers' injury could wipe the smile off McKenzie's face after the Waratahs inflicted the second-heaviest Super defeat ever on the Blues.

"It's definitely the biggest win of my career - playing and coaching - against Auckland," McKenzie said.

"I'm a bit surprised to be honest but I think, in the conditions, I was just happy we stuck to a pretty simple game plan and our tactics worked well in the environment we played.

"It's not the environment we train or play in very often so I thought the guys handled it very well."

Hewat's starring role overshadowed Chris Whitaker's record-setting night out.

Apart from becoming the first player to rack up 100 Super rugby games for the Waratahs, Whitaker set two records as skipper.

The 31-year-old is the first NSW captain to guide the Waratahs to twin wins over the Blues and he equalled Burke's record for most matches as captain against the Aucklanders with three games as skipper.

Powerhouse hooker Adam Freier gave the Waratahs the perfect start to the game when he dummied his way over for the opening try in the eighth minute.

Hewat and Blues centre Luke McAlister traded penalty goals before classy winger Lote Tuqiri caught the Aucklanders napping when he took a quick tap and raced 20 metres to score out wide in the 32nd minute to give the Waratahs a 14-point buffer.

Hewat scored all but five of NSW's points after the break as the Waratahs completely dominated the second half.

NSW's only other points came from a 68th-minute try to winger Wendell Sailor when he soared above his opposite number Brent Ward to reel in a cross-field bomb from replacement five-eighth Daniel Halangahu.

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