Lions captain Warren Whiteley paid tribute to his team and also applauded the Crusaders after the Super Rugby final in Christchurch on Saturday.
The Crusaders ran out 37-18 winners to claim a ninth title, leaving the Lions to contemplate a third straight defeat in a final.
But number eight Whiteley was full of praise for his players and admitted the best team won on the day in an emotional interview at full-time.
“I’m immensely proud. It has been unbelievable the last couple of years but we’re obviously gutted and a bit emotional,” he told Sky Sport NZ.
“We gave it everything out there and credit must go to the Crusaders, they were unbelievable. Everything we threw at them they stopped. We threw the kitchen sink at them and they deserve this win.”