Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has labelled former NSW coach Phil Gould’s comments about Paul Gallen as unwarranted and personal while launching a defence of his captain.
Gould called NSW’s on-field leadership group – including Blues captain Gallen – selfish after NSW lost their 10th State of Origin series out of the last 11 with their defeat in Brisbane on Wednesday night.
Flanagan defended Gallen and said the 34-year-old’s form meant he deserved to play the third and final match of the series.
"I don't think [the criticism] is warranted. I think it has become personal those comments,” he said.
“Let's just judge Gal on his performance. Some people are saying Gal gets the ball too much but that is the team structure and that's the coach's job to make sure he doesn't get the ball first off the ruck.
"For me Gal is playing really well. He deserved his spot in Origin I and II, he deserved his spot in the Test match.
“There are some smart people involved in selecting those teams and they are not going to pick Gal if he is [not] ready to play. He was man of the match in the Test match.
“So I think those comments are pretty unfair and form will show if he gets picked for the third game.
"I thought Gal played really well the other night, he did his job. I don't think there are too many people criticising the way Gal actually played.
“But if he gets picked on form and picked on his last game, he gets picked. I will let the selectors and Laurie [Daley] sort that out. If Gal is not playing well he won't get picked but he will one of the first players picked."
Flanagan also defended the NSW team and paid tribute to the mighty Queensland side that has dominated the series for more than a decade.
"We all need to have a look at ourselves. We seem to eat ourselves after losses,” he said.
“I was taught as a young bloke to go out out there and play as hard as you can. If you're not good enough then you sit back and applaud the opposition.
“NSW are playing against a super side with half a dozen or more of the best players in the competition. Along with definitely the best hooker [Cameron Smith] I have ever seen and a five-eighth [Johnathan Thurston] who will probably be the best we'll ever see to date.
“We should look at the Queensland side as one of the best sides we have ever seen. I remember when I was [NSW assistant coach under] Craig Bellamy. Craig's probably one of the best coaches I've been involved with. He worked his butt off, we had a pretty good team and we couldn't beat them.
“It's been the case for the past couple of years. We need to stop eating ourselves and lets stand up and applaud the Queensland side. It's hard for me to say that but they are a quality team and they are just too good."
One player who earned rave reviews for his second half cameo in game two was Sharks young gun Jack Bird.
And with South Sydney halfback Adam Reynolds likely to miss game three with a shoulder injury, Flanagan said Bird could do a job from the start in the halves.
"If he is playing five-eighth I think he will be fine,” he said.
“He is not a player to steer a side around the park but he can play that stand-off role.
“With his combination with Jimmy he will be fine. They know each other's game well. He is one of those kids who will accept any challenge.”
Cronulla’s four Origin representatives are all likely to back up for their clash with the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday night.
The Sharks are looking for a club record-equaling 11th straight win.
"They are all fine. Some of them are a bit sore as you would expect but they will all play,” Flanagan said.
"It has been a disruptive week in a sense but we want Origin players in our club and if I want Origin players in our club I need to be able to suck it up.
"The emotional side of things takes a toll on Gal. He came in for treatment and he was really good. I was surprised. He turned up with a good attitude to training and he will be ready to go."
