In what has been described as one of rugby league's most selfless gestures, departing Canterbury captain James Graham secretly offered to take a pay cut in an attempt to keep Josh Reynolds at Belmore.

Graham and Reynolds have long been the Bulldogs' favourite sons, but both will be leaving due to the club's well-publicised salary cap issues. St George Illawarra-bound Graham walked away from the final year of his contract to help the club accommodate new recruits Aaron Woods and Kieran Foran, while Reynolds will join Wests Tigers on a $3 million, four-year deal.

Canterbury's three-year offer to Reynolds didn't come close to what the joint-venture outfit was offering the former NSW pivot, but such was his importance to the Bulldogs that Graham offered to sacrifice a part of his own salary so the Bulldogs could bump up their offer to the man affectionately known as "Grub".

Graham's gesture has been such a closely kept secret that it's believed not even Reynolds was aware of it. However, Canterbury chairman Ray Dib revealed the selfless act at the club's presentation night while on stage with an emotional Graham.