It isn't pessimism ,its your garden variety "fear of the unknown" ... I'm all for wrecking parties and smashing stereotypes so I'll wear this underdog tag well.
New CEO, new board, new coach, new captain, new halves, new fullback, new forwards, no Jems, no Grub, no Kas .... and as far as I can tell, no Plan-B if Foran gets hurt.
Also, we'll need Storm to be unorganised without Cronk in Rd1.
We'll need Cronk to hurt himself in Rd 1 to avoid him in Rd 2.
Panthers + Maloney in Rd3.
Resurgent Souths + Inglis in Rd4.
Fuck knows with Raiders (Sezer / Austin) in Rd5 but they pulled our pants own good last year.
Cowboys + Thurston at home in Rd6.
More Chicken-Cronk in Rd7.
There's Eels + Hayne in there with their puffy chests after last years efforts.
There's those fuckin' Broncos and their punchable heads in Brissy.
And the god damned Sharks !!!
Right now it looks like we might have to sacrifice a live animal or something for Ye Footy Gods.