Debate has been raging about exactly how much the Broncos will pay Bird. Brisbane have been hosing down the price because they fear what they are going to need to pay off-contract stars Darius Boyd and Anthony Milford. My sources tell me the original offer was $800,000 for year one, $850,000 for year two and $900,000 in the third year. That was knocked back by Bird's management. Until I see the contract, I will believe my sources who say Bird was eventually paid $950,000 for three years. In year four the deal is for $1.2million, and the option for that fourth year is in Bird's favour. That matches the $4 million for four years I was told after the deal was done. That's a long way from the original figure the Broncos were feeding to the local media of $700,000 a year for three years. A star Bronco would have accepted that without thinking twice. Brisbane are now trying to change the focus of the media by saying the Sharks shouldn't have put out a statement saying Brisbane had signed him. Brisbane don't need their players wondering why they aren't on "Bird money". It has the potential to be distracting and take the focus off their season. Boyd has the right to feel he should be the highest paid player at the club. And despite internal pressure for Milford to do a deal, his agent, Sam Ayoub, is not in a rush.

Bird wasn't Wayne Bennett's only choice. The Broncos coach made a very sneaky play to try to snatch brilliant young fullback Kalyn Ponga. He was being sold Boyd's fullback position. Bird will be sorely missed by the Sharks, which is why, on Wednesday, a group of senior players did their best to keep him. Chris Heighington and Paul Gallen had a long chat to Bird over a coffee in Cronulla. Gallen then drove Bird to a crisis meeting with Flanagan. Gallen offered to attend the meeting with Bird, but the young star went on his own and left 40 minutes later without signing on. Huge character: James Graham. Credit:Getty Images Graham sticks loyal to Des The Bulldogs are so keen for the rumours about skipper James Graham being unwanted at the club to stop that they have called his manager, David Riolo, to tell him not to believe the stories.

The line that Graham will be moved on to another club is everywhere. Bulldogs insiders have told me that if Graham gets a rich, long-term offer they will let him go. That contradicts the club line to Riolo. However, it's the background that is most interesting. Bulldogs coach Des Hasler is a massive Graham fan, and vice-versa. There are two stories being pushed around. The one I believe is that sections of the board don't love Graham, particularly as a skipper. I don't know why – there is no more passionate club man. And players would love to follow him into battle. I have also been told a very influential Canterbury figure approached Graham when there was a push to oust Hasler as coach. It was an attempt to get Graham to roll on Hasler. They didn't count on Graham's character and loyalty to Hasler. Those looking for negativity from Graham were looking in the wrong place.

I spoke to Graham soon after this column first revealed there was an attempt to oust Hasler by placing performance clauses in his contract. The message from Graham was that the club was barking mad if it wanted anyone but Hasler. And Hasler has stuck by Graham. The forwards who are considered "moveable" are Sam Kasiano and Greg Eastwood. They have been on the market for several weeks. Using his head Moves to introduce an 18th man to replace players ruled out of games through concussion are being blocked by some of the people who need them most – the coaches. At the NRL competition committee meeting during the week, Roosters coach Trent Robinson said head injuries should be treated like any other injury suffered during a game. He argued that someone who finds themselves in the wrong place to make a tackle could suffer an injury to any part of his body, so all injuries should be treated equally. On that basis, why have an extra replacement just for head injuries?

Robinson said the focus, instead, should be on ensuring players get appropriate treatment during and after the game. His argument makes sense and is another reason Robinson is seen as a future leader of the game's administration. The other shining light at the meeting was Greg Inglis, who represented the players, and made it clear he would much rather be treated for a head injury by his club doctor – someone who knows him well – than an independent doctor he has never met. He also joined the chorus of players who have been embarrassed by the sight of players slapping each other in melees on the field. The competition committee decided to empower referees to sin bin slappers, a move supported by most players, coaches and officials. Shining Knights Newcastle have the feel of a team that is building. Nathan Brown seems to be getting it right after Wayne Bennett left the club in a mess. Brown is getting considerable help from the greatest Knight Andrew Johns and his highly influential brother, Matthew. The pair are being used by Brown to have a quiet word when it counts to players and their families when they are trying to recruit big names to the club. Apart from the team, they are also selling the area. The club could not ask for two better former players to help lure players to Newcastle. They deserve credit for helping their old team out.

Roosters great: Adrian Lam. Credit:Orlando Chiodo A hot Rooster There is a hot property in the halves market that some of the smart judges are looking at, young Rooster Lachlan Lam. Yes, he is the son of Roosters star Adrian Lam. Lachlan is the standout in the Roosters juniors and has made all the rep sides. He's got a sidestep, kicking game and can kick goals. The smart judges say he can be as good as the supremely talented Nathan Cleary. The problem for Lam is that the Roosters have established stars Mitchell Pearce and Luke Keary in the halves. Sound of silence

The cringe-worthy moment of last weekend occurred when Mitchell Moses was giving an interview on Fox Sports after the Tigers had pulled off a remarkable upset win against the Cowboys in Townsville. One of the panel members was his former coach Jason Taylor. It's unclear if Moses was briefed by the network straight after the game, but what was noticeable was the absolute silence from Taylor. He didn't ask Moses a question, while everyone else on the panel did. It indicates clearly that there is tension between the pair and, as we have pointed out in the past, a fair amount of that stems from the support Moses and others have for "mind coach" Joe Wehbe and Taylor's lack of interest in him. The Tigers backed Taylor in that area and they've indicated to me that the chances of Wehbe getting a gig either full or part-time as a club employee remain very slim. Mature approach: Robbie Farah. Credit:Getty Images

Farah enough Robbie Farah showed considerable class when he faced the media during the week and didn't tear into Jason Taylor. Farah was ready. His "who are they going to blame now?" line was very reasonable. Farah was blamed for every disaster the Tigers have been through, yet long after he is gone the players have taken it to a new level. The contract circus conducted by the players' agent Isaac Moses has been next level. Loading There is a chance for the club to use Mitchell Moses' request for an early release to their advantage. The club could use $200,000 from his deal to bump up James Tedesco this year as some kind of bonus payment. The problem is, the noises Tedesco has been making indicate a deeply unhappy player. Danny Weidler is a reporter with Nine news.