But Rotorua's Liam Messam had other ideas. (Unless the Steamers are playing Waikato, we'll claim him).
His 67th minute try, bursting over the line off the back of the scrum, exemplified the home side's steely resolve and ability to step up for finals football, and laid the foundation for a stunning fightback and victory.
It's easy to say in hindsight, and blasphemy at the height of the action, but the best games are the close ones, where it could go either way, a fine line separating crushing defeat and extreme jubilation. The last eight minutes of the game, during which the Chiefs held a slim, catchable five-point lead, were excruciating and exhilarating, and the siren couldn't come soon enough.
To emerge victorious from such heated battle is the stuff of true champions.
Last year was no one-off. The Chiefs are New Zealand's supreme Super Rugby side. They've made the final in three of the past five seasons - the Crusaders appeared in just one, and lost.
The red and blacks may have a better long-term record - with seven titles - but beating that's just another challenge our lads will meet given time.
And their time has come.