Every year there is much gnashing of teeth when a State Representative or Australian Schoolboy player decides to sign up for the <insert Car Maker> Cup.
The Leather Patches tut tuting gets quite loud when the Fivekick background boys take a spot in the rep teams (moreso for Aust Schoolboys than State reps) if they are committed to Fivekick with no intention of staying in rugby and navigating the Pathway to Gold.
Because there is no money in Colts rugby (at least at most clubs) and there is a perception of unlimited riches in Fivekick both in the Carmakers cup and the NRL itself, each year there are a few high school graduates from primarily Rugby backgrounds that sign up for the Carmakers Cup to fund their studies or apprenticeship. This usually causes the Leather Patches to say that it is evidence of Rugby needs to invest more in the grass roots, especially the gap between School and Pro Rugby. This is usually accompanied by a nod and wink saying "They'll be back" when they don't get a NRL contract after the are too old for the Carmakers Cup.
Can anybody recall anyone who came back from the Dark Side after being in Oz Schools or Oz A, or was a top player for his school, and couldn't get beyond U/20 in league, as opposed to the KHunts of this world who "came back to the light" after being successful in the NRL world?
I can't recall all that many but of late, Keleti Vaingolo, Sam Gerry-Burgess, Usaia O'Sullivan, Rocky Elsom, Alofa Alofa, Duncan Paia'aua spring to mind.
How many actually come back having tasted the temptations of the Dark Side?
I think more go to the Carmakers Cup and never return, than go and come back when NRL don't want them.