The NSW Waratahs broke an 80-year hoodoo to shoot to the top of the Super 14 ladder with a landmark 27-22 victory over the Blues on Friday night.

The Waratahs hadn't won at Auckland's Eden Park since the 1920s but buried their demons in style to revive their title hopes after back-to-back losses to the Brumbies and Crusaders had threatened to derail their 2009 campaign.

Chris Hickey's decision to hand Daniel Halangahu his first start of the season, at the expense of star five-eighth Kurtley Beale, proved a coaching masterstroke.

In addition to adding a steadying hand - and boot - to the NSW backline, Halangahu contributed 17 points for the Tahs from a try, three conversions and two penalties.

With both sides scoring three tries, Halangahu's five goals from six attempts ultimately proved the difference.

"It was my first start of the year - I'd only played about 40 minutes - so I was happy to get through the 80," Halangahu modestly said.

"Very happy with the team. We came here knowing we were really up against it.

"We had never had a win here at Eden Park and I was here last time (when) we got a huge touch up.

"So the boys knew it was a huge challenge but, yeah, very happy to come away with the points."

NSW captain Phil Waugh, another of the Waratahs' heroes, was also mightily relieved at finally breaking the jinx.

"It's a tough place to win. I've been on the wrong end too many times," Waugh said.

"Great effort by the guys and it was an important win for us."

The Waratahs made a dream start, racing to a 10-0 lead in as many minutes - with all the early points coming from Halangahu.

After some relentless attack inside Blues territory, Halangahu dummied his way over for the opening try from close range in the seventh minute.

He landed the conversion, then added a penalty goal before the Blues struck back in the 17th minute with a 60-metre try to winger Anthony Tuitavake.

From a scrum win, the Blues quickly shifted the ball right to Tuitavake, who fended off Waratahs centre Rob Horne and shimmied past fullback Sam Norton-Knight before racing away to score.

Halfback Luke Burgess extended NSW's lead to 17-5 in the 27th minute with an intercept try from after a Blues scrum win close to their own line.

The Waratahs were reduced to 14 men on the half hour when Wycliff Palu was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-down, allowing the Blues to narrow the deficit to nine points through a Jimmy Gopperth penalty.

The visitors suffered another setback early in the second half, with Burgess forced off with a leg injury.

Flanker Onosa'i Auva'a edged the Blues to within two points of the Waratahs when he capitalised on a botched NSW lineout to score the home team's second try in the 50th minute.

The Waratahs, though, rebounded quickly with hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau - with the support of his driving forward pack - charging over to restore NSW's nine-point lead.

Halangahu made it 27-15 with another penalty before a converted try to Blues replacement Michael Hobbs set up a tense final 10 minutes for the Waratahs.

But the Blues were unable to conjure the winning try and, despite picking up a bonus point for losing by less than seven points to move into the top four, the Aucklanders were likely to slip to mid-table by the end of the round.

Compounding their woes was an Achilles tendon injury to All Blacks lock Ali Williams.

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