Playing in a ferocious wind which got stronger as the game went on, Soakai said the match was always going to go down to the wire.
"It was more about the attitude of the guys out there. We knew we had to show some mongrel and just do whatever was needed to win," Soakai said.
"At the end there we just had to show some guts and spirit and hang on to the ball. We know we can do it, but we just haven't quite been able to play the whole 80 minutes."
He felt the side was quite composed going into the wind in the second half and just knew it had to muscle up and keep tackling hard.
"There were a few patches out there when we didn't quite get things right, but the boys are pretty satisfied. I think we're getting comfortable at chasing the game and the guys like doing that."
Soakai had praise for his front row, saying the set piece was excellent throughout the match and delivered some good ball for the side.
Otago coach Phil Mooney praised the character of the side, and its ability to hold on to the ball near the end.
"I think that try we scored right after halftime was very important. That gave us a bit of a buffer and though Hawkes Bay got four or five penalties in the second half we showed some real composure out there," Mooney said.
Mooney said the wind changed the whole dynamic of the game.
Hawkes Bay liked to move the ball wide, but it was never going to happen in that sort of wind, Mooney said.
Only seven points up at the break, Mooney said the side had done plenty of work in the first 40 minutes but did not have a lot to show for it.
But the attitude and toughness showed by the side in the second half was great, he said.
"I've been saying it for the last few weeks but these guys have been working hard and spirits haven't dropped. Winning a close game like this is important for us.
"The defence worked really hard and I think that exemplifies the spirit within the side."
Mooney joked that Ben Smith had suggested playing with the wind in the first half, as it would die off, but if anything it had strengthened as the game went on.
No 8 Adam Thomson was forced to pull out of the side after he wrenched his neck at Saturday's captain's run at Carisbrook.
Mooney said Thomson was expected to be available next week, but felt his replacement, Charlie O'Connell, had played well.
Despite the win, Otago is still bottom of the table after Manawatu upset Wellington on Saturday.
