Rugby league is genuinely under threat from European rugby union and Mark Gasnier won't be the last to go. The simple fact is, in an open market, the lure of playing rugby overseas - for good money - will hold tremendous appeal for league's best.
But it's time to set some facts straight about the looming threat of French and English rugby clubs.
If NRL players think they can waltz overseas for a well-paid European holiday, they are sorely mistaken. This is no junket. French and English clubs are prepared to pay top dollar to lure the best players, but they expect value for money.
It's a case of perform or perish. A classic example was Patricio Noriega. The former Wallabies prop joined Stade Francais in 2000 for a massive amount of money for the time. But he had a number of issues and didn't perform as well as expected. The club owner practically tore up his contract in front of him, claiming he was playing like a player worth less than a third of what he was on and that was all he would receive.
Playing in the northern hemisphere is tough. When players are paid big money, there is no safety net if they don't perform. I'm not surprised to hear that Craig Gower is doing well at Bayonne.
When Gower came to watch the Wallabies train - after he signed to play rugby - my first impressions were that he was a tough customer.
One thing they respect in the northern hemisphere is blokes that are prepared to have a go, and Gower appears to be the sort of guy who will play with injury and have a dig.
After the Gasnier announcement, I read with interest Dragons chief executive Peter Doust's suggestion league players could be loaned to the northern hemisphere.
This is an arrogant approach. You only have to look at the number of games that are played overseas to see that it wouldn't work.
For example, Stade Francais, Gasnier's team, will play 26 club matches, six European Cup matches, a couple of trials and maybe a quarter- or semi-final. That's 36 or 37 games.
In Gasnier's favour, Stade Francais is one of the stronger clubs which has the luxury of being able to rest him for a few games.
But to suggest players could play both codes is not on. It's also important to put in perspective how many spots are available overseas. England has 12 major clubs, France has 14. You're only allowed two foreigners in each team, which means there are only 52 spots open overseas. That makes players such as Luke Rooney, who has a European passport, worth their weight in gold.
The situation has changed the landscape for player managers. In the past, agents had been able to place players in one market. Now, most managers have representatives in the United Kingdom and are looking to get the best deal for their client, as they ought to.
A couple of points also need to be made about league and union.
For starters, the codes are coming closer together. In recent years in league we've seen centres play in the back row, and we've seen halfbacks play hooker. I'm not suggesting it would happen in rugby, but the game has become more free flowing under the ELVs. For example, the rolling maul has collapsed and kicking the ball out on the full is seldom seen. This will make the switch easier, but it will always be trickier for forwards.
Club loyalty still goes a long way, but it's not the be-all and end-all. One bad game or a change of coach and the player can quickly be on the outer. And money is always going to be a huge motivator. Remember in the 1960s and '70s some of Queensland's best league players headed south for the big money?
Similarly, many of rugby's best chased the lira in Italy in the '80s and '90s before the game went professional. You can't blame them.
But money isn't the only reason to switch. Although rugby has gone backwards in the past 12 months - with teams pulled from Melbourne, the Gold Coast and western Sydney - it is a truly international game. While Gasnier has been panned for selling out, I truly believe he genuinely wants to experience the lifestyle in Europe and a different challenge. League is a game I enjoy watching, but the fact is it's only big in two states and rugby is an international game played in 100 countries. I have compiled a list of NRL players (above) that I'd want if I was an English or French club coach.
If managers are doing the right thing by their players, they'll be exploring all possibilities.
And the following players may not be as well known as those on my hit-list, but they would be great value.
MICHAEL ROBERTSON: This guy has a lot of Ben Tune traits with his powerful running. Knows how to find the try line.
MITCHELL AUBUSSON: This bloke has plenty of confidence. He would make an impact at No.13.
LACHLAN COOTE: Confident, young and versatile. An outside back on the way up.
KRISNAN INU: You might have to part with a bit more of your hard-earned for Inu, as he is a more established star, but worth the money, though.
CHRIS LAWRENCE: He has his whole career in front of him. A lot of improvement left.
John Connolly coached Stade Francais from 2000-02 And these blokes could be next . . .
JOHNATHAN THURSTON : Has terrific vision. The prerequisite for a rugby five-eighth isn't just about having the ball skills but also a good kicking game. Thurston has all the bases covered.
DARREN LOCKYER : A wonderful player. The only thing against him is the fact he is getting to the end of his career.
BRAITH ANASTA: Like Lockyer and Thurston, Anasta would make a great No.10. His kicking and running game is a tremendous asset.
KARMICHAEL HUNT/KURT GIDLEY: These two would be top No.12s and could earn a phenomenal amount of money. They are strong and provide a genuine spark in attack.
COLIN BEST: This guy would be a handful in rugby. Strong, fast and elusive, he's a big man with a great stride. He might not be the biggest name in the NRL, but he would be great value for money for any club rugby coach.
BRENT TATE: The dye has been cast with Mark Gasnier, but I believe Brent Tate could also make the switch successfully. Tate wanted to come back to rugby but the neck brace he was wearing was outlawed.
GREG INGLIS/ISRAEL FOLAU: What can I say. Unbelievable athletes. The biggest question is where you would play them in rugby union. These guys could play outside-centre or on the wing. Their kicking games probably aren't good enough for fullback. When I heard the money Inglis got when he re-signed with the Storm a few years ago, it made me wonder how much more he could get in rugby.
BRETT STEWART/BILLY SLATER: Stewart would make a very good fullback, but the star of them all could be Slater. What a marvellous attacking player. You get the feeling something would happen every time he touched the ball from fullback. These guys could also play wing.
CRAIG WING: Wing's background in rugby is a huge advantage. His versatility is an asset and with the role of the No.9 changing, he'd be very suited to the new ELVs.
LUKE O'DONNELL: It will always be more difficult for the forwards to come over - but not impossible. O'Donnell's a powerful runner and a defender with a high work rate.