The Chiefs conditioning and skill level have been highlighted as crucial factors behind their success this year but perhaps the real star of their show has been the Super Rugby franchise's recruitment strategy.
The NZ Herald said the Chiefs are the competition's greatest wheeler‑dealers; they are the ultimate nugget finder.
Their franchise is built predominantly on men who grew up supporting other clubs.
The Chiefs are a home for strays; a place for the unwanted to gather and then unify in their bond to prove everyone wrong.
The Canterbury Crusaders did not find a place for Brodie Retallick in their academy.
They saw a big lump when he was at Christchurch Boys' High School who was more interested in proving why his nickname was "guzzler".
Whatever Canterbury thought about Damian McKenzie, they never had the chance to tell him as the former Christ's College pupil signed as a Waikato and Chiefs player.
Their record in these miracle conversions ‑ of seemingly dragging a piece of coal to Hamilton only to unearth a diamond ‑ is unparalleled and they show no signs of losing their magic touch.
Anton Lienert‑Brown is another who starred in Christchurch schoolboy rugby but committed to the Chiefs and is starting to look like he could be a player with special abilities.
The other player who epitomises the effectiveness of their recruitment process is lock‑loose forward Taleni Seu.
The 21‑year‑old could in time prove to be one of the best finds of the Dave Rennie era.
Seu is a 2.02m former basketballer whose athletic ability is extreme.
He's played at lock and flanker for the Chiefs and impressed in both roles to the extent that it was hard to determine to which he was best suited.
Seu was missed by the entire Auckland talent identification programme.
First‑five Aaron Cruden was struggling at the Hurricanes, even reduced to playing off the bench in 2011 which is why he initially missed the Rugby World Cup.
He shifted to the Chiefs, set the game on fire and won the title.
Sonny Bill Williams went from so‑so with the Crusaders to phenomenal with the Chiefs and Charlie Ngatai, quiet and unnoticed at the Hurricanes is now the form second‑five in New Zealand.
The Chiefs play the Hurricanes at 7.35pm tomorrow.
The Highlanders take on the Sharks at 7.35 tonight.
