What also became apparent in the Blues' first public outing under Tana Umaga is that they have at last dispensed with the gimmicky mantras and motivational platitudes so beloved of his coaching predecessors Pat Lam and John Kirwan.
Instead, what the Blues appeared to have was a genuine desire to work hard for each other. The hunger within the squad, for the first time in an age, appears to at last be intrinsic.
Nothing proved that more than the large contingent of internationals who fronted. Big name players usually avoid pre-season games, treating them with disdain.
But for the second 40 minutes, the Blues had a handful of All Blacks on the field. It spoke volumes that Jerome Kaino was adamant he'd be involved and that he thundered about for the second half looking as fit as he did the last time he played ... at Twickenham in the World Cup final.
His desire to turn the franchise around and restore pride to the region mirrors the same brooding intensity with which he plays. He has two World Cup winners' medals and while he retains serious All Black ambitions, his priority is the Blues.
The example he sets has a major influence. Young All Blacks Patrick Tuipulotu and Steven Luatua were at full noise alongside him, as were George Moala and Rene Ranger, and if there is one early conclusion to reach about the Blues, it is that the senior players are genuinely sick of chronic underperformance.
Desire alone - intrinsic or otherwise - won't in itself transform the Blues. But desire combined with the improved coaching that has obviously arrived with Umaga and the better balanced squad he has picked, gives them some semblance of hope.
The perennial problem of lacking proven quality at halfback and first-five remains and they don't have the depth at lock to support Tuipulotu.
Those issues aside, the 2016 squad, however, looks infinitely better equipped than last year's mob, with the significant added bonus of being built around young, local players who have significant growth potential.
