Praise has come from far and wide for the coaching staff and it seems hard to believe that two years ago many were wanting coach Jamie Joseph and his support staff to be shown the door.
Tony Brown and Clarke Dermody have joined the franchise and the Highlanders have gone from 14th two years ago to top of the pile this year.
The coaching team has come up with game plans this year - in the three playoff games, especially - which put the Highlanders one step ahead of the opposition before the games had kicked off.
Against the Waratahs, the Highlanders hemmed the home team into its own half with some astute kicking, while against the Chiefs, they exploited the blindside and never gave the Chiefs any time with the ball.
On Saturday night, some intense rush defence and clever kicking had the Hurricanes penned back for most of the game.
These things do not happen by accident.
The coaches work incredibly hard - hours are spent watching games and thinking up ways to combat the strengths and exploit the weaknesses of opposition.
Former Otago, Highlanders and All Black coach Laurie Mains was full of praise for the side, its performance and the coaching staff.
''The last three weeks of the Highlanders' performances have been out of the top drawer - as good as you have seen anywhere,'' Mains said.
''That has been driven by a very strong coaching staff. One of the unsung heroes is Jon Preston. The offloading of the players has come a long way compared to where they were two years ago.''
Mains also praised the input of defence coach Scott McLeod.
He said it had been a determined and totally ruthless performance by the forward pack.
''They displayed good old-fashioned southern values and that has been missing for a fair while. This team really bought into it. You have guys like Aaron Smith who come from outside but have bought into the culture here.''
Mains said rugby was a team game which required discipline and the Highlanders had put all the things together to perform.
He said the forwards worked hard, overcoming injuries, and delivered ball to the backs who could create magic from nothing.
''It would be the most satisfying win as any I had when I was coaching. I've got a bit of a soft spot for Jamie. I coached him for eight years and still have the odd discussion with him.
''He is a coach just like he was as a player - no nonsense, no excuses. Just get in and get the job done.''
Highlanders general manager Roger Clark said the franchise had never considered getting rid of any of the coaches two years ago.
The whole organisation had made mistakes that year and that had been rectified with new coaches coming on board and a changing of the team. Coaches had simply got more experienced and in 2013 the Highlanders had gone away from their core values.
Of the team that took the field on Saturday night, just three players - the two Smiths and Liam Coltman - appeared in the final game of 2013.