In fact, even 12 months ago, the players themselves would have chuckled at having their names mentioned as Super rugby champions.
Yet there they were at Dunedin airport yesterday, signing autograph after autograph and posing for selfies, like rock stars.
The two forwards are rookies in the Highlanders team, although arguably at the opposite ends of their career.
Rugged lock Ainley (33) earned his way into this year's Highlanders squad on the back of a solid campaign for Tasman, but even he was surprised by his meteoric rise at the late stage of his career.
''This time last year I was playing club footy,'' Ainley said.
Openside flanker Lentjes (24) had been plying his trade for Taieri at club level and made eight appearances for Otago last year, but to play 40 minutes in the Super rugby final was a pipe dream a matter of months ago.
''If you had asked me a year ago [if he would play in the Super rugby final], I would have said you're not right,'' Lentjes said.
''It's been an unreal season, and to get a couple of chances in the most important games and get the result ... it hasn't quite sunk in yet.''
Ainley, too, was waiting for the whole experience to soak in to his bones, even as fans surrounded the players at the luggage carousel.
''It's slowly starting to with the huge crowd we've got here - it's unbelievable and you start to understand the support you've got,'' Ainley said.
Ainley admitted to not getting much sleep, and Lentjes predicts that pattern may continue for a few days yet.
''We got a wee bit but I wouldn't say a whole heap - and probably not much more for the next few days,'' Lentjes said.