Josh Reynolds says he would have stayed at Canterbury for less money after signing a four-year $3.2 million deal with Wests.
Reynolds debuted for the club in 2011 and has become the ‘heart and soul’ of Belmore.
But bleeding blue and white was not enough for the Bulldogs to retain him with the club set to sign coach Des Hasler’s mate Kieran Foran.
Reynolds said he was heartbroken to have to leave the club he played for as a junior.
"I definitely would have stayed for a little bit less at the Dogs," Reynolds told Fairfax.
"But when the difference is life-changing, how do you say no?"
"It does hurt a bit because he's (Foran) coming to the club I love, and I would have loved to have stayed.

"When I heard they might be signing him I was a bit scared because I wasn't sure how I was going to fit in.
"The reality is that someone is going to have to go and I really didn't think that was going to be me.
"I really wanted to stay."
But the former NSW half is determined to leave Belmore on a high note by delivering the club its first premiership since 2004 after losing grand finals in 2012 and 2014.
"We've had a really good team for six years but we still haven't won the comp. We should have won a comp," he said.
"Is it my fault? Maybe I've got a bit to do with it. I don't know."
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