Payne's agent's job is to get him the most money he can. Payne considers that's what he's paying his agent commission to worry about, and he doesn't want to be lumbered with talking about it. Fair enough.
Part of that process is going to have to be his agent shopping him around other clubs to gauge his market value, and that process is going to get back to us through the media. None of this means Payne will actually join another club, regardless of whether they outbid the Broncos, or some other club he'd be happy to join.
Until Payne shows his hand there is no way we can predict where he'll be in five years time. If that were possible no other club would be bidding. This is how negotiation works. Both parties need to be able to walk away from the table. Those are the stakes.
He probably only has a few clubs he'd be prepared to sign with. Maybe one is the Broncos. Or maybe he'd like to get away. If he wants to stay in SEQ, he has three clubs to choose between. If they'll pay the price. Or maybe he'd like to take a punt on getting a premiership ring and move to one of the frontrunners. Again, we can't tell.
Throughout this process Payne is acting sensibly. He does not owe the Broncos any more than to serve out his current contract. He's well and truly put in as much effort as any player in the NRL. We can't say he bludged off us.
We really just have to leave him be. It's his future. We have him now. And we have his 100%. What more could we demand of him?