That they were unable to satisfactorily convert territory and possession until later in the piece had plenty to do with their ball retention - or lack of and their reluctance to attack more directly.
The cohesion and resilience of the Chiefs defence was also a factor. The pre-season hype has focused on the potential attacking threat posed by Sonny Bill Williams and Richard Kahui, but it might in fact be their defensive prowess that the Chiefs come to value more.
When the Highlanders did stay in control of the ball and sent strike runners on more threatening angles, there would be one of Williams or Kahui to clobber someone or wrap up the ball carrier. Tamati Ellison, straight off the plane from Japan, was heavily involved and happy to run but, as much as he twisted and turned, he couldn't shake himself free.
Kahui was omnipresent in Ellison's life last night and how the latter must have wished he was still running against the more fragile defences he encountered in Japan.
The Highlanders had to rely on a chargedown for their winning try and would probably acknowledge that it was always going to take a bit of luck to nudge themselves over the line. They would probably also agree that they were a little relieved that the Chiefs didn't inflict more damage in the first half.
It was Brendon Leonard who was the key weapon. He looked considerably more like the 2007 version of his former self. There were entire games back in those days when Leonard carried the Chiefs.
He was, back in the day, a bald, ball of fury; fast feet and silky hands with that unbridled sense of confidence only a select few can carry. Injury robbed him of much of his confidence and acceleration and also that priceless ability to know when to break.
Some of that old spark was in evidence last night. He was livelier and more aware than he's been in an age and his left leg swung back into life as well - his kicking down the tramlines bang on the money until he was forced to limp off with a nasty leg injury.
In contrast, his opposite in the No 9 shirt, the man who replaced him in the All Blacks in 2008, didn't appear to have recovered much of the form that deserted him during the World Cup. Jimmy Cowan's warrior spirit is unlikely to ever die but his accuracy and dynamism have been misplaced for some time now.
It was Cowan's careless no-look pass to no one that led to the Chiefs' try. With no idea whether there was a blue shirt in the general vicinity, Cowan flipped the ball over his shoulder only for the Chiefs to plough through and help themselves, shift it wide and score when Lelia Masaga came off his wing and battled through the middle.
It wasn't much of a surprise to see Cowan dragged just after the break - his slow retreat to the bench perhaps a sign that even he knows it could be a long season - that his accomplished understudy Aaron Smith may not be the apprentice by season end.
The Highlanders were instantly more threatening when Smith appeared and the Manawatu halfback was able to scramble over from short range to begin the comeback from 19-9 down midway through the second half.
Shortly after Smith ploughed over, Burleigh crashed over and the Highlanders knew they were going home happy.
Chiefs 19 (A. Cruden 4 pens, con; L. Masaga try), Highlanders 23 (A. Smith, P. Burleigh tries; C. Noakes 3 pens, 2 pens)
