A decade after Cronulla's 2016 premiership victory over Melbourne Storm, Chad Townsend revisited the campaign with former coach Shane Flanagan.
On The Chad Townsend Show, Townsend asked why Flanagan removed him during the qualifying final against Canberra at GIO Stadium.
Flanagan said captain Paul Gallen injured his back in the gym during the week and could not play.
Wade Graham then suffered a concussion in the opening set, leaving Cronulla without its next captain.
"We were down 12-nil pretty early... I was going on the back of three losses. I'm going, 'What's going on with this team?' And we weren't humming that day, Chad."
Flanagan stressed that Townsend was not responsible, but believed Cronulla needed a spark after failing to score.
"At the time, I just thought it was a move to get Birdie [Jack Bird] on the ball."
He said several players had been replaced during the season, and Townsend's turn came in that match.
Flanagan recalled that Townsend responded by determining to become "one of the best players in the game" before Cronulla defeated North Queensland the following week.