Being a failure in RU minds would actually benefit RL in terms of future signings. Players will see the treatment Burgess has had and may think twice, and hopefully RU clubs will not want to get their fingers burnt in the same way again.
If he could be brought back and straight into the England team against NZ it would be massive news for RL and would probably add to attendances. If anything that could be a major plus for a sport which struggles to get any sort of national coverage.
I still think he'll bite his nose off to spite his face and stay in RU and be a club standard forward. Maybe even good enough to play for England. But better than the best in the world against players who've played that game their whole lives? Cobblers. Just as it would be laughable to assume that many RU forwards would be world beaters in RL. Good players after a time certainly but better than the best? No chance.