And, let's face it, he's right - for some guys, there is opportunity to play overseas while they're still young and fit, and before they have to start working in an office.
If it happens to come with a big pay cheque, then great. But human psychology is interesting: if there is enough money on the table for the job at hand, people are far more interested in what the other aspects of the environment offer. I've worked a job where I got paid 20% more than I do now, but the travel and the work itself wasn't as rewarding. Its not always about the maximum amount.
And, as he says, any departure is an opportunity for someone else. We can't hang onto these blokes forever like we did with Gregan and Bernie, leaving ourselves exposed once they were done. What will the Socceroos do once Cahill retires, for example?