Manly Sea Eagles captain Tom Trbojevic expressed that the team feels "responsible" for the decision to dismiss coach Anthony Seibold.
New recruit Jamal Fogarty also weighed in, suggesting that the coach deserved more than just three games to try and rectify the situation.
Seibold's fate was sealed following Manly's disappointing 0-3 start to the season, leading to his termination on Friday night, just a short way into what was essentially a new two-year contract.
The signs had been ominous, particularly after the team lost all three home matches, prompting fans to chant "Seibold out" during their recent defeat against the Roosters.
While a coach being sacked early in the season allows a club the chance to regroup, Fogarty argued that it was premature to remove someone when players are the ones who are making mistakes and missing tackles.
"That's above my pay grade, but if I was the owner of an organisation, I'd like to see him have an opportunity to turn it around," Fogarty remarked on Monday, closely watched by Sea Eagles CEO and club legend Jason King.
"He's not out there missing tackles or knocking the ball on and stuff like that, so us as a playing group, we know we have to be better because that's just not the Manly standard."