The departure of Campbell Magnay is a sign of the times but a frustrated Nick Stiles is keen to secure the young centre's services for 2018 and beyond.
Japanese Top 14 club Suntory Sungoliath announced Magnay as a new signing on Friday.
The 20-year-old will join Matt Giteau and fellow Red George Smith at the club at the end of the Super Rugby season but given his youth and the injury riddled seasons he has endured to start his career, word of Magnay's departure has been a particularly tough pill to swallow.
Smith will return to the Reds next season but Magnay is off contract and while it's understood the Reds have money set aside to secure his signature, Stiles didn't hold back when asked about the young gun's departure.
"He's not contracted at this stage but that's something he wants - he wants to come back to the Queensland Reds and we would like to have him back here," Stiles said.
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"We have invested three years of a lot of hard work from the back room staff and the medical staff to get his body right and to be honest, I don't feel we have got reward out of him yet, on field.
"Campbell feels that way as well and ideally he will come back and play Super Rugby next year but there is still a lot to go on for that to happen."
It is well documented that there are more opportunities overseas than ever before and while that may benefit the Jake McIntyre's of the world, losing the likes of Magnay, Sean McMahon and Liam Gill is disastrous for Australian rugby.
That trio all have their best rugby ahead of them and would surely form part of the 2019 Rugby World Cup plans, should they be plying their trade in Australia.
"You don't want to see a 20, 21-year-old footballer with as much talent as he (Magnay) has heading overseas at that age," Stiles said.
"It's unfortunate but you are seeing it more and more" Stiles said.
"Sean McMahon is doing the same, Liam Gill left at a young age, so that's something that does pop up more often now and if we can understand the fluid nature of rugby, we can say to Campbell that we aren't happy about him going but we would love to see him back.
"We will see what we can work out."
The Reds face the Brumbies on Friday night, kicking off at 7:45pm AEST, broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS and on radio at RUGBY.com.au.
