I think a lot of people said that about all of those players before and after they went across. Thorne probably being the most successful, then Tuqiri. The other three were considered expensive failures, and yet RA wants to go back to that 'well'?
There is always the possibility of noses getting out of joint in the NRL senior playing ranks if converts get paid a truckload to come across. It also sets an unhealthy expectation on the young guys to perform when they don't have the skills or experience to play 'to their worth'.
You could make the case that those players you named were the start of Unions downward spiral. Paying those NRL players a heap of money to switch maybe sent a clear signal to young players that a better and more lucrative pathway is through rugby league. Just spit-balling, but we should be thinking long term on this.
I'm torn on this issue. While I think rugby union is deserving of this reality check I also think the codes can coexist. We currently don't need to pick over the carcass as they're killing themselves off pretty effectively. Killing them completely cuts a rectangle field code out to the benefit of AFL, for stadium funding as well as junior sports grants etc.
