The New Zealand Warriors recorded their fourth straight loss on Saturday afternoon, going down 24-16 to the Newcastle Knights.
It was another inconsistent performance from Nathan Brown's side, but it was Matt Lodge's departure that featured heavily as a topic in the post-match press conference.
Lodge left the club two weeks ago, granted an early release following a 14-game stint after a mid-season switch last year.
In an honest and frank explanation, the Warriors' head coach took full responsibility for the recent developments.
"When you've recruited a player and it doesn't work out - as it has in [Lodge's] case - it's no one's fault but the head coach's," Brown said.
"I brought [Lodge] to the club and it didn't work out. So that's on me.
"It's not on the owner. It's not on [Lodge]. It's not on anyone. It's on me, you know.
"If you've got a bloke moving out of your club that you've brought to the club, you've done something wrong. It's no one else's fault but the head coach.
"If you move players that you didn't bring to the club, that ain't your fault, because you're doing your job.
"So I take full responsibility for the Lodge situation."
Surprisingly, Lodge left the Warriors without another club lined up, citing his desire to remain in Australia as the reason for wanting an early exit - despite the fact the Warriors are still based in Redcliffe.
The front-rower has already been linked with moves to Manly, Wests Tigers and the Dolphins, but he was recently spotted playing second-grade rugby union for North's Brisbane.
Nathan Brown explained that he genuinely wants to see Lodge succeed in his prime years.
"I had a chat with Lodge. [It was about] really wanting to make his next club work for him," he said.
"His best years are to come - and that's all I said to him.
"He was playing some really good footy for us ... really good consistent footy.
"I just want him to go to a club where he goes and it works out for him for a four or five-year block.
"He's still only 26 and you want to see it work out for him.
"Unfortunately, it didn't work out here. But as I said, when you bring a bloke to a club and it doesn't work out, you [have] got to look at what you maybe got wrong."
#NRLWarriorsKnights Match Highlights 🎥
— NRL (@NRL) May 28, 2022
The Knights sparked a comeback to down the Warriors 24-16 at Moreton Daily Stadium! pic.twitter.com/qaCXKJapDV
Warriors captain Tohu Harris was able to see the silver lining from Lodge's exit, believing that there are opportunities for other players to step up now.
"To be honest, the team has coped really well," Harris said.
"Our players know that we have got no sort of control of that situation and the club and Matt did a good job of handling their own business to the side, and it didn't impact the players at all.
"Obviously, it means that there's opportunities for other guys ... it created a bit of excitement around our week.
"I thought the players handled the week really well.
"We got on with the job and we had a good week of training."
