The NSW Waratahs delivered skipper Phil Waugh the perfect 100th game, a record ninth straight home Super 14 victory, when they downed the Highlanders 34-16 on Friday night.

The Waratahs remain unbeaten in three starts after the four-tries-to-one, bonus-point victory at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Man of the match Kurtley Beale was instrumental again for the Tahs, having a hand in both first half tries and booting five from five to relieve the pressure of a poor kicking display against the Chiefs last week.

Waugh, sporting his now regular head bandage, may have trouble remembering all of his 100th after copping a 35th minute accidental knee to the head.

It left him flat on his back and receiving attention but the hardman played on, much to the delight of a disappointing crowd of 19,492.

It took NSW most of the first 40 minutes to click, but Beale had somehow conjured a 17-9 lead by the break.

The Highlanders had led 6-0 after 14 minutes through two penalty goals to Daniel Bowden.

Beale squandered an early chance, electing to kick ahead rather than pass to unmarked winger Lachie Turner which resulted in a Tom Carter try being disallowed for offside in the 12th minute.

But the No.10 made amends with a deft grubber kick for Lote Tuqiri's 24th minute five-pointer and a superb inside ball for fullback Sam Norton-Knight to set up a try on the stroke of halftime for flanker Ben Mowen.

Two sideline conversions and a 32nd minute penalty from Beale ensured the handy lead at the break.

When Wycliff Palu barged over two minutes after the break to celebrate his 50th game for NSW, 24-9 looked like it would be too much for the visitors to make up.

They rallied when stand-in skipper Jason Shoemark took advantage of an overlap in the 50th minute to get within eight points, but Beale made it 27-16 with a 55th-minute penalty goal.

The inexperienced Highlanders didn't give up and for much of the second half looked more likely to score a second try than NSW did of grabbing a fourth.

But Brett Sheehan ensured the extra point when he sprinted away in the 78th minute to complete a patchy win for the Waratahs.

Waugh said the turning point had been the tries immediately before and after halftime.

"Scoring that try before halftime and then coming out and scoring straight after halftime, that's probably the critical part of the game there," he said.

For the second week in a row the skipper was left making jokes about his succession of head injuries.

Asked about his memories over 100 games, he quipped: "I'd like to remember that one." The captain also made a plea for support from the Waratahs faithful as the new-look side builds cohesion under new coach Chris Hickey.

"Obviously the crowd numbers have been down a little bit the last couple of weeks but our performances have been down a little bit too the last couple of weeks, so hopefully we can keep improving and the crowd numbers can keep improving." Hickey described Beale's form as "sound", but praised his No.10 for his improved kicking.

"He's probably a little bit like the team in that we probably still haven't seen the best of him but part pleasing tonight was his kicking," Hickey said.

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