Wakefield Trinity Wildcats captain Danny Kirmond has conceded that he and his teammates are largely to blame for James Webster's recent departure from the club.
Webster left Bell Vue with immediate effect earlier this week, following a run of 11 defeats from their opening 13 games of the season.
The stuttering start has left the Wildcats sitting at the bottom of the Super League table, seven points adrift of 11th-placed Salford Red Devils.
Kirmond now wants to put things right under interim coach Stuart Dickens, starting with Sunday's clash against Widnes Vikings.
"When something like this happens you have to take a step back and have a look at your own role as players," he told reporters. "You have to be honest with yourself. We've not performed as well as we should have.
"The squad we've got, if you look on paper, is probably the most talented we've had at the club for four or five years so for us to be sitting bottom of the league and not have a win in 10 weeks is our fault. Webbo is a really good bloke and to see him get dragged down to the point where he feels can't do anything for the squad any more.
"That's the most disappointing thing for me, to see him upset and feel like he has to leave his position ultimately because of what we've done out there. As individuals, if we could all have done more, we might not be in this situation, but it's sport and these things happen. It's important now we get a reaction - not only for the people still here but for James as well."
Wakefield have lost their last eight Super League games.
