Australia also has other carrots to dangle the real hot talents, ie State of Origin and test football for their native country.
The UK league has an import system which automatically limits the number of aussies that can go there. That quota is being reduced again next season as the UK wants to nurture their own homegrown talent, so I wouldnt be worrying about our young talent going to the UK SL. A player must have 30 ( i think) first grade games here in australia before he is even eligable for a work permit over there to play footy.
This year and next ( due to the addition of the french team which is being allowed more imported players to get off the ground) will be the last years we see as many players go over, and in the grand scheme of things there really are only very small numbers of our NRL stars being lost to the UK, very small percentage indeed.
The new quota will ensure that its like it should be, only real star players will be saught after by the UK clubs, like when sterling and kenny went over before, but they will not leave to go for the UK pounds too soon becuase that would mean retiring early from origin ( alf the obvious exception to that rule) and test footy.
So the perfect environment will be achieved hopefully, that is more young UK players being guided by one or two very good, very experienced big name aussies imports in key positions, the fans get to see the big names play live ( the hero worship and legend status among the kids of north england for our big names is incredible, lockyer, johns, fittler, they are thought of like some of our kids think of the big name basketballers of the USA) and footy is the winner.
