Signing any player from Rugby Union is a gamble as both codes are totally different and the skills sets that players have in that game and what make them look very good, don't always transpire to make them successful Rugby League players.
IMO players that played RU at Full Back,centre and wing have produced the most successful converts to our game in the past as these roles are the most similar in both games (at least attacking wise)
Craig Innes was absolutely sensational when he signed for Leeds in 1992 as his game was perfectly suited to RL
(I recall a quote from Dean Bell from that time when he was asked who he thought was the best player in the competition and he replied Craig Innes.)
These Rugby Union boys are earning big money even at club level and the England Internationals are on mega money contracts
So IMO even if their salaries are exempt/reduced for a couple of seasons should they cross codes ( on our salary cap) they will still command big salaries to sign
Warrington signed Luther Burrell who was 31 at the time and I've not been that impressed with what i have seen from him last season when he has played
IMO identifying young RU talent is the way to go if we want to pick up some promising players and as an example Ratu Naulago has looked very good for Hull FC in his debut season
