NSW Waratahs skipper Phil Waugh predicted teenage centre Rob Horne was set for superstar status following his team's dramatic 26-22 opening round Super 14 rugby win over the Hurricanes in Wellington.

A stirring defensive display and the some deadly finishing from their outside backs earned the Waratahs just their second win in eight games over the Hurricanes in New Zealand.

Horne 19, set up the first of the Waratahs' four tries with a sizzling break and scored their fourth and final bonus-point earning try.

"He (Horne) is going to be a superstar," Waugh said.

Playing their first match under new coach Chris Hickey, losing 2008 finalists NSW proved they will again be a force to be reckoned with despite losing three Test forwards.

The home team dominated territorially for much of the contest, but were frequently foiled by a steely blue defensive line.

Conversely, NSW made the most of their rare incursions into opposition territory, scoring three first half tries to lead 19-5 at the break.

Fullback Sam Norton-Knight and wingers Lote Tuqiri and Lachie Turner all crossed to set up a 19-0 lead.

The Hurricanes scored the next 15 points, and reduced the deficit to four with 13 minutes remaining.

Horne appeared to have settled the issue ten minutes from fulltime, with a bonus point try following a crossfield kick from five-eighth Kurtley Beale, who converted to give NSW a 26-15 lead.

The Hurricanes retaliated immediately with a converted try to hooker Dane Coles, which again reduced the gap to four points, but the Waratahs soaked up further pressure in the last few minutes.

"We did everything to lose the game after we got off to a good start but the guys hung in there very well and it was a pretty good win in the end," Waugh said.

"We played a lot in our own half and our kicking game probably wasn't up to scratch, but we'll regroup."

The NSW victory was based on an outstanding set piece platform, with the Waratahs' scrum and lineout both excelling.

"There were big question marks over our tight five after we had a few players leaving, from what we saw tonight the lineout went pretty well and the scrum was okay as well," Waugh said.

The Waratahs scored from their first significant attack, after being pinned in their half for most of the first ten minutes.

Horne zipped past opposite number Tamati Ellison and busted the Hurricanes line 35 metres out, before sending Norton-Knight clear.

Tuqiri added the second try when he took a Beale pass and used his pace to beat Hurricanes flanker Scott Waldrom in an angled run to the line.

Fleet footed Turner sprinted close to 90 metres for the third try after he pounced on a loose ball when a kick from centre Ma'a Nonu deflected off Beale.

The Waratahs five-eighth blotted his copybook when his attempted clearance kick close to his line was charged down by opposite number Daniel Kirkpatrick, who marked his Super debut with a try.

NSW defended doggedly in the last few minutes of the half and were forced to endure more sustained pressure after the break.

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