''We didn't have an ounce of luck and I felt we didn't get any decisions go for us,'' Joseph said.
''There were a lot of nerves out there. There was a settling period in that game where both sides were trying each other out and then our try got disallowed.''
Ben Smith was ruled to have held back a defender as Malakai Fekitoa went across and Joseph felt it was a critical call.
''He got done for cleaning out a player and hanging on to his leg. Thought it was tough call. You feel for the players. A lot of effort goes into the game with preparation. There was a lot of marginal calls that did not go our way.
''And the opportunities we did get given, we never took them. They defended well, the Hurricanes.''
He said it was good for his side to come back and get a bonus point at the end.
''I have to give a lot of credit to my team. The way they fought back at the end when they were well down. We were looking at the back end of something ... and for an inch forward it would have been a draw.''
Joseph said the side needed to show a bit more patience in the first half and get the ball in good field positions.
''We have to remember you win the game in the last minute, not the first minute of the game.''
He praised his scrum and the young front rowers, whom he said possibly needed to show some patience.
''We know we can play and we just have to make sure we get some field position and apply some pressure.''
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said he was happy with the win but it was not a great performance by either team.
''I think there was a lot on the game. We made nine unforced handling errors in the first half. Those Highlanders-Hurricanes games are pretty intense. There is quite a lot of historical rivalry there. I think both sides were trying to hard to start with,'' Boyd said.
He said the side had matured over the past couple of years with young players getting more experience and that helped get his side over the line last night.
He praised All Black Ma'a Nonu for his ability to ''pull a rabbit out the hat'' when needed.
He felt referee Ben O'Keefe did a good job and said the pass at the end was clearly forward.
Flanker Ardie Savea left the field in the second half with a dislocated finger and also split it. He went to hospital last night and is unlikely to front next week.
The Highlanders face the Stormers next Saturday night, at the stadium, while the Hurricanes take on the Rebels in Wellington.