Wellington have broken their 22-year NPC title drought by beating Canterbury 26-18.
The Lions have revealed that winning the Ranfurly Shield, followed by last night's success, came after a mid-season leadership meeting when the group agreed they really needed to turn their season around.
It's a celebration over two decades in the making, Wellington roared into song following their 26-18 final win over Canterbury.
Saturday's victory completed a remarkable turnaround. After two losses in their first three matches, they were playing more like cubs than Lions.
But it sparked an urgent discussion between the team's leaders.
"We have to be the difference," TJ Perenara said of Wellington's senior players. "We have to be the ones who step up and turn up every day, and try to be the best and try to win.
"It was like 'what are we doing boys?'" asked captain Du'Plessis Kirifi. "We've always had so much talent here in Wellington.
"Something's going wrong."
But then it went oh so right. The Lions won 10 matches in a row - picking up the Ranfurly Shield and the NPC title along the way.
"We knew we had a good enough team to win this championship if we got things firing," added Perenara.
"We played a style of footy that catered to the players that we have. [I'm] really proud."
The fired-up Wellington side gathered extra motivation when only three of their players were selected in the All Blacks XV side to tour the northern hemisphere.
"I thought we'd have a few more on these tours to be fair, the way that our boys have played," said Perenara.
The Lions captain - who was influential in Saturday's win - set up the opening try and used his non-selection as an added incentive.
"Obviously I'm disappointed to miss out on that team," said Kirifi. "It's the All Blacks. You want to be in the All Blacks."
Kirifi turned that disappointment into delight. And after a long wait the Lions once again rule the NPC.
"It's a helluva reason to wake up with a hangover that's for sure," he said. "I got pretty emotional last night.
"I just took a moment [and] was able to look at the team from afar while they all celebrated. We all have a right to feel proud but I'm just happy for the group bro
"I'm happy for the young boys to see what it takes to win a championship, I'm happy for the old fellas to finally get one."
