The way they rallied when they trailed 36-21 comes to mind.
But also the way his men were able to control the game with about 10 minutes remaining was inspiring.
They were nursing a 38-36 lead but kept Canterbury pinned down and ground out the win in clinical fashion.
"I’m very proud of what they were able to deliver there," Brown said.
"They just keep finding a way to get themselves back into games.
"It would be nice not to be in that position. But despite that, they repeatedly work their way back into games.
"There are areas of the game management that we haven't been so flash at, and either put ourselves under pressure or haven't quite iced the game.
"So to do what we did today with the Ranfurly Shield at stake, well, that just shows how far they've come."
Hooker Henry Bell was not quite as composed.
He watched the last quarter of the game from the bench, having been replaced by former All Black Liam Coltman, who scored the final try.
"To come back like that shows plenty of ticker," Bell said.
"But I felt pretty ill, to be fair, for the last 15 minutes.
"When that final whistle went, I was just absolutely stoked."
He had a brief word with his younger brother, George, who played a blinder for Canterbury and scored a try in the first half.
"It's always an awesome opportunity to play against him. Yeah, pretty grateful to be able to do that.
"And to win as well makes it a bit sweeter."
That win looked unlikely when they trailed by 15. But Bell still had faith.
"Once we started playing our game and holding on to the ball, we knew we had the firepower to break them open, so, nah, we weren't too worried, to be fair."
Otago will need to regroup quickly as they face their first Shield defence this Saturday.
North Harbour are not exactly having a wonderful season but they could rescue it — in a big way — by getting their hands on the Ranfurly Shield for the first time since their one and only reign in 2006.
Otago have held the Shield four times now since their epic, 56-year drought-breaking glory in 2013.
But familiarity does not breed contempt, and any reign with the Log is special.
"I think it’s a really important way to connect with our community, because it means so much to everybody," Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Richard Kinley said yesterday.
"The Ranfurly Shield is a really important part of rugby history. Look at the reactions ... it’s just a great way for Otago rugby to give back to the community."
Kinley said the union was never going to tempt fate by pre-planning any victory celebrations, but there was already a "tentative plan" to get the Shield around the region.
It had been a rough couple of years in terms of results for Otago but they were now reaping some rewards, Kinley said, and he praised the work of both Brown and former long-serving coach Tom Donnelly.
"I think it’s something the team has been building towards for a long time.
"We’ve got a lot of young players who have come in over the last three or four years, and Mark has come in and pulled it all together and added his experience and expertise."
The win has also helped Otago cement second place in the NPC standings — just four points behind previously unbeaten Canterbury — and they are odds-on to host a quarterfinal as they chase their first championship in 27 years.
Hopefully, they do not suffer the same Shield hangover as Southland, who have collapsed in a heap since their wonderful win over Waikato a month ago.
They have since conceded 193 in three games, their latest effort a 75-19 humiliation at the hands of Wellington.
Ranfurly Shield
Otago reigns
1935-37 eight defences
1938 five
1947-50 18
1957 one
2013 zero
2018 six
2020 zero
2025 to be determined
