In Hastings' second year, the Rovers made the cup final, losing to the Phil Keinzley-coached Wairarapa United at Palmerston North.
"In that year I think we surprised a few people," he says, after the Bill Robertson-captained Rovers went on to claim the league bragging rights last winter.
This winter he likes to think his men will simply "give it a good crack" in the fourth year, that will denote the beginning of a new cycle.
Primarily he doesn't believe too many teams who etch their names on silverware tend to claim back-to-back titles.
Add to that assertion the harsh reality of the Rovers losing nine players from last year's memorable season.
Goalkeeper Sean Peta will be a field player for Western Rangers in the ComputerCare Pacific Premiership after the former Hawke's Bay United reserve gloveman had a "break in summer".
Fellow Bay United squad member Matt Hastings is coaching the Rovers' premiership team.
Fergus Neil and partner/Maycenvale Misfits player Aleesha Heywood are having a "lifestyle" in Australia.
So is Luke Chapman.
Striker Jarrod Smith's Achilles' injury has put him out for 9-12 months.
English import Stephen Hoyle is playing in Canada, while fellow utility player Jose Cantillo has returned to his home in Costa Rica.
Riley O'Meagher is attending Auckland University, while Andy Pickering has retired but will play for the junior Hastings' reserve team in the premiership.
If that isn't enough, Robertson isn't unavailable until he finishes the O-League campaign for the Paul Marshall-coached Waitakere United team who won the ASB Premiership this summer.
Veteran defender Regan Cameron will assume the mantle of captaincy, something he has done in previous seasons and part-time last winter when Robertson was unavailable or injured.
It isn't all bad news, though.
Enter English import defender Aaron Jones and fellow Bay United player Harley Rodeka, who should inject good pace on the wing.
Bay United youth striker Fane Morgan comes into the equation in what Hastings likes to believe is a healthy rapport between the Rovers and Hastings Boys' High School.
"You've got to talk these things through for a resolution," he says after HBHS' failed attempt to field a schoolboy team in the premiership that didn't sit well with major clubs in Hastings.
Jonty Underhill becomes the No 1 goalkeeper after playing for the reserves last winter.
His younger brother, Connor, will be the reserve.
Last season's demoted Cru Bar Maycenvale United player Jared Bloor makes his debut for the Rovers.
You see, Hastings sees his cyclical development in soccer akin to an excited bride's prerequisites - something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.
While the first and second are clear and the last one is a no brainer the "something borrowed" is no doubt the league trophy.
Suffice it to say they are well beyond the honeymoon phase, but his philosophy for his men hasn't changed, though.
"We have to earn the right to be successful by training well.
"You then have to earn the right to win by playing well.
"That's how it is and that's how it'll always be."
This season's seems to have a home-and-away feel about it, with a degree of monotonous regularity compared with last winter when the Rovers had to play five successive games away in predominantly Wellington because the Napier City Council didn't have Bluewater Stadium ready in time because of irrigation work.
Travelling every second week will mean players will spend close to 10 hours in the bus, but "it is what it is".
"We ask all our players, 'Do you get travel sickness'," he explains.
Traditionally, Hastings reveals, the Blues are slow out of the starting blocks.
"We'll probably need to be much better this year."
ROVERS SQUAD: Jonty Underhill (GK), Aaron Jones, Rudi Bauerfeind, Regan Cameron (c), Scott Henderson, Cole Peverley, Fane Morgan, Harley Rodeka, Jared Bloor, Josh Stevenson, Danny Wilson, David Gearey, Reiner Bauerfeind, Patrick Pilz.
Coach: Grant Hastings.
GAMES
The Rovers' season's games with home teams first:
Today: Olympic v NCR.
April 14: NCR v Lower Hutt City.
April 20: Petone v NCR.
April 28: NCR v Western Suburbs.
May 4: Tawa v NCR.
May 19: NCR v Wairarapa United.
May 25: Upper Hutt City v NCR.
June 1: Miramar Rangers v NCR.
June 9: NCR v Wellington United.
June 23: NCR v Olympic.
June 29: Lower Hutt City v NCR.
July 7: NCR v Petone.
July 13: Western Suburbs v NCR.
July 21: NCR v Tawa.
July 28: Wairarapa United v NCR.
August 4: NCR v Upper Hutt City.
August 11: NCR v Miramar Rangers.
August 17: Wellington United v NCR.
