The penny appeared to drop in the second half of the side’s 33-31 win over the Chiefs in Hamilton yesterday.
Gone were the ineffective chip kicks and box kicks of the past few games which were all too often handing the ball over to the opposition.
Instead, the Highlanders moved the ball to the flanks, especially down the left hand side, and found holes in a tiring Chiefs defence.
The Highlanders ended up winning with a try well past the fulltime siren in a well deserved and lion-hearted effort.
Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger praised the side’s comeback and the composure shown by the team.
"We wanted to attack and do all those things that we have been talking about. Keeping the ball in hand, nailing the chances which came along and making the most of any opportunities," he said.
"The guys who came on from the bench really helped. Josh Ioane teamed up with Mitch [Hunt] and controlled things and got us going in the right direction.
"And Michael Collins was a real key for us. He was the glue there that really held us together when he went into centre. Just his communication and the way he helped. He does a lot of work behind the scenes."
Mauger said it was a total team effort and the ball runners made metres when they had the ball. The forward reserves who came on helped win the battle up front.
He described the win as another step forward by the team and it was starting to click well in parts of its game.
The side ran good angles in the second half and stayed in support of each other.
Mauger said the elation by the coaching team and the players at the end of the game with the last minute try just showed "how much this team means to us and how proud the boys are of making the region proud".
The slow start from the Highlanders could be put down to the impact of the side playing its fourth tough game in as many weeks, Mauger said.
At halftime the coaches asked for more direction and accuracy from the team and for a shift in mentality.
The Highlanders loose forward trio again played well above itself and shaded its opposites.
The Chiefs had a crucial try denied just past the hour mark when Damian McKenzie went over. It was ruled out for an accidental offside earlier in the move. That try, if converted would, have put the side 18 points ahead with 15 minutes to play, but it was correctly ruled out.
The Highlanders side will head into the bye this week with the bulk of the players taking the week off, although some players will continue to train and play club rugby this Saturday.
Whether the bye has come at the right time for a team which has just scored a gutsy win is up for debate. But Mauger said the bye was very much needed, as the team was keen for a break and wanted to recharge for the final three games of the season.
The team’s next game is against the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium on August 2. The side would come back together on July 28 to prepare for the Blues.
The match is for the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy.
The win completes the double over the Chiefs this season after a one point win at Forsyth Barr Stadium last month.