Cronulla players are confident Jack Bird's stellar performance against Penrith is a sign that his contract distractions are well behind him.
Bird's close friend and teammate Valentine Holmes last week admitted that the centre seemed like he was "not really there" at training as negotiations continued into another week, before he told teammates he was headed to Brisbane.
But with that news out of the way, elder statesman Luke Lewis said on Wednesday he had sat down with Bird and he appeared to be back to his normal self.
"I've been through it as well and I said to him it's going to feel a little bit weird knowing that you're going to be in a different side," Lewis said.
"He said he felt like that for a couple of days but now it's all over - all the boys are behind him."
Bird scored a decisive try in the Sharks' 28-2 Easter Sunday win over Penrith, finally breaking the scoring drought which had plagued him in the opening six rounds.
He also handled dangerous Panthers centre Tyrone Peachey with ease, as the Sharks went a second consecutive week without conceding a try.
"He came out and proved on the weekend that it wasn't much of a distraction," Lewis said.
"I thought he played outstanding for us."
Meanwhile Cronulla utility Kurt Capewell told AAP on Wednesday he wasn't eying Bird's centre spot for next season.
Capewell re-signed with the Sharks until the end of 2019 this month, just before Bird announced he was leaving the club.
But despite starting his career as a fullback in the under-20s, and playing two matches for the Sharks this year in the centres, 23-year-old Capewell said he saw his future as an edge second-rower.
"Centre's not really my position," he said.
"I'm happy to play anywhere but I do prefer back row."
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