The NRL rarely stands still.
Between NRL training sessions, media appearances, and behind-the-scenes conversations, new storylines often begin to emerge before the weekend arrives.
Throughout the week, ESPN will be gathering notes, insights, and updates from around the competition heading into Round 18 of the NRL.
Critta confirms Xerri exit
Stephen Crichton has confirmed Bronson Xerri will depart the Bulldogs, and admitted his exit is exciting for the star centre.
"It's exciting for Bronson," Crichton admitted.
"I spoke to him before the game last week about just putting himself in his family first.
"It's always hard to move, but he said it himself, getting out of this comfort zone and pushing himself to the next level is gonna be really exciting."
Crichton also admitted Matt Burton is at his happiest he's been in a while shifting to centre, and admitted he understands the pressure Burton has been under in the halves since moving there himself.
"How happy he is playing footy again [is something I've noticed]," Crichton said of the shift.
"Ever since Burto has gone out there [to the centres], his communication is going through the roof of how he wants the ball.
"We sit down for coffees and things, and we just talk about how we want to play, and I feel like that just shows the maturity and the leadership that he has as well."
Haas calls early Souths talks "BS"
Payne Haas has rubbished any notion that he would be keen on an early exit, admitting he "thought it was a joke" at first.
Yeah I couldn't believe it," Haas said of the reports.
"I thought it was a joke. Obviously, I got tipped off and found out it was pretty real.
"Someone reached out to Madge and Madge told me about it as well.
"It's a bit of BS, there's no way I would ever consider it.
" I would never do that to the boys [at the Broncos]."
He went on to say he "couldn't live with [himself] doing that if that ever came true, declaring he's committed to Brisbane until the end of the season.
Brailey's "three week" call
Blayke Brailey completed a miraculous recovery from a broken arm suffered just a month ago in order to make himself available for the Blues in Origin III, however the star Shark admits his return was never in doubt.
"To be honest with you, there wasn't [any doubt I wouldn't return], I always had the confidence that I was gonna be back in three weeks," Brailey shared.
"I never really had a plan B or thought I wouldn't be fit."
The Cronulla skipper shared what his interesting strategy which prompted his return, proving just how confident he was that he'd be fit for Origin III.
"I remember the day I broke it, I wrote three weeks on the back of my door, so every time I leave, I look at that," Brailey recalled.
"Every time I leave, [every time] I come back in the house, that's what I looked at.
"It gave me the confidence and the motivation. I felt great, so I always had the confidence to be back in that time."