Well I think we can forget this year from a title point of view, which realistically was probably always the case given the personell we lost. Supporters were always hopeful (as I was) but aren't all supporters of teams at the start of a new season.
However, all is not lost if we can improve from here as the season goes on, knock of the odd team that we shouldn't, finish mid-table and, most importantly, with half a dozen new, young players quickly stepping up to becoming top line super rugby players.
We are already some of the way there, with the potential being shown by Roach, Robertson, Dempsey, Holloway, Horwitz (I know he had a mare on Sunday, but that can happen with any young player, he'd been good till then) and Robinson. And we still need to get a look at Hanigan, Wilkins, Stewart and Kellaway. If these blokes can develop as the season goes on, it's a great stepping stone to the future.
A lot now comes down to Gibson. Cheika and others have had a good look at him over the last couple of years, I'm not ready to throw him under the bus yet. If he can lift the general standard as the season goes on, get some of the older players to re-find their hunger, and have these young blokes develope the skills and confidence to be top super rugby payers, the season certainly won't be a waste.
Call me the eternal optimist, but that's how I see it. I'm a great believer that out of a setback comes an opportunity.