NRL grand final - Player ratings
"Do we have to rally around him? Nah. It's not Ben Hunt's fault," Hodges said.
"Ben thought he cost us the game but without Benny we wouldn't be here today.
"I don't blame anyone. What happens, happens."
It was a cruel end to Hodges' remarkable 16 season career which featured two premierships.
"We didn't get the result. But my dream was to get back here (grand final). I couldn't be happier with them (teammates).
"You need a bit of luck. We are not going to sit here and whinge.
"The boys are feeling it but they will learn from it.
"They are a young side, they will bounce back."
Hodges had to battle a back complaint to play his 251st and final NRL game.
It was yet another entry to Hodges' long career injury list.
No wonder he almost appeared relieved to be hanging up his boots and resting his weary body as he reflected on the shattering loss.
"I'm glad it's over," he said with a smile.
It marked the first grand final Bennett had lost as sole head coach, ending his remarkable run of seven straight titles.
Asked if it was the most disappointing loss, Bennett said: "You don't count your losses that way.
"Someone has to lose.
"We got beaten by a field goal.
"Are we disappointed? Of course we are but it was an outstanding game of football.
"I'm not bitter and twisted."
On 33-year-old Hodges, Bennett said: "He didn't get the fairytale finish but he has had a fairytale.
"He got to finish on his terms."
NRL GRAND FINAL SNAPSHOT
THEY SAID IT: "This is why we play the game" - Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston after receiving the Clive Churchill Medal following his match winning golden point field goal.
STAT THAT MATTERS: No.1 - that's the amount of premierships North Queensland now have safe in their keeping, finally breaking their premiership drought - and finals curse - in their 20th anniversary year with their dramatic 17-16 golden point win over Brisbane.
MAN OF THE MATCH: How can you go past Johnathan Thurston? The Cowboys co-captain was the face of North Queensland's horror finals run of late so it only seemed fitting that he ended their misery, potting the match winning field goal to bring a welcome smile to long suffering Cowboys' fans' faces.
MAGIC MOMENT: Where to start? North Queensland produced something from nothing on the stroke of fulltime, Michael Morgan's inside ball set up Kyle Feldt's try that locked up the scores at 16-16. Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston hit the post for the sideline conversion to send the match into golden point.
TALKING POINT: Is there anything Thurston can't do? Okay, so his sideline conversion after the fulltime siren hit the post but the four-time Dally M Medallist showed he still had his Midas touch with his 82nd minute match winning field goal.
JUDICIARY WATCH: Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt was placed on report for a 77th minute dangerous throw on Cowboys centre Kane Linnett.
KEY INJURIES: Nil.
UNDER PRESSURE: Poor Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt. The No.7 had done little wrong all season, earning comparisons with Broncos great Allan Langer. But the pint-sized playmaker will unfortunately be remembered for his knock on from the re-start in golden point for setting up the Cowboys' match winning play.
- AAP
