For 90 years, rugby union warned their rugby league rivals that its day would come and revenge for years of player pillaging would be swift and painful.
Be careful what you wish for.
The almost inevitably sad and controversial end to Lote Tuqiri's rugby career brings to a close a sorry chapter in Australian rugby.
One where a century of tradition – of promoting from the heartland rather than the hip-pocket – went out the door in place of a quick grab for publicity and fans.
Tuqiri and fellow converts Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers were brought over simply to sell more tickets at the box office and drive a stake through rugby league's heart.
One by one they have left via the backdoor, two of them in disgrace, without adding anything of real value except dollar signs to their bank balances.
Sailor copped a two-year ban for cocaine use and was re-embraced by the league fraternity as soon as his suspension ended.
Rogers, who seemed to be constantly injured when in the rah rah ranks, was released from his ARU contract early and jumped straight into the arms of the Gold Coast Titans.
Tuqiri already has NRL clubs queuing at his front door after his seven-year stint in rugby blew up in his face as a result off an off-field misdemeanour cloaked in more secrecy than Michael Jackson's kids.
Make no mistake, the ARU was looking for reasons to cut LT loose.
The sight of their $1 million-a-year 'star' running around for West Harbour in front of 276 fans at club rugby venues around Sydney had the ARU beancounters reaching for the shot glasses.
In recent weeks we've seen league converts Ryan Cross and Timana Tahu back in club rugby, unwanted by Wallabies coach Robbie Deans despite the money being spent on them.
Starting to see a pattern here?
Forget the rubbish the leaguies dish out about the 'challenge' or the chance to 'see the world' a switch to rugby offers.
It's all about how much loot they can stuff away.
In the meantime, scores of disillusioned rugby players are having their pathway to the top blocked by players who aren't as good and never will be.
The arrival of Robbie Deans as Wallabies coach should herald the end of this ridiculous trend.
He went cold on Tuqiri and Tahu long ago and Cross is being used sparingly.
Deans isn't interested in reputation. If you can't cut it, he'll cut you regardless of your pay packet.
As one well known league-cum-rugby identity told Sportal: "If you are playing any sport for the wrong reasons, it shows in your game and I think that's definitely the case for a couple of these guys who've switched codes."
"It's a bit arrogant to think that just because you made it to the top in league you can be an instant hit in union."
"It's like squash and tennis – they both use racquets and balls but are completely different games."
Your serve, ARU.