True Blue Gallen "never considered retiring from rep football"

Why do you get so narky over interpretation and waste so much time and energy tearing apart individual sentences? The content of each post was clear. After about half a dozen narky off topic posts you finally put together a rational, reasoned opinion on why you don't rate Gallen (please don't respond with something like "you didn't read properly, I do rate Gallen, he's just...") I put forward a calm, rational, counter opinion. I didn't discredit or belittle what you wrote just offered a counter. If someone expressing surprise is enough to get your blood boiling you probably need to relax a bit. "That wasn't the line, that was an excerpt from a sentence in parenthesis" Are you kidding?

As Bennett noted re Carlaw ,looks like Tarzan plays like Jane. Gallen is the furthest thing from Jane when it comes to playing rugby league.

Well I got to that point and stopped reading as it seemed you had the complete wrong end of the stick so no point in seeing what else you wrote on an incorrect reading of my post. Also that wasn’t the line, that was an excerpt from a sentence which was in parenthesis, if you read the rest of the sentence I highlight three overall outstanding things that I don’t feel he offers at sufficient level for the “greatness” camp. Here is the sentence you extracted that partial quote from: “The better at simple things that need to be done quality makes him incredibly valuable but I feel that his value over replacement players is less than forwards who bend the defence better, starch their own line and/or provide more threat in ball playing. I do only refer to people whom I believe do it better ie to a level that if I’m picking a team of “greats” I take players that were great in their roles rather than a guy who was above capable across them. In the context of the post, hell just the actual sentence, that is no more a slight on his overall consistency than you saying he changed the way he played (“Gallen used to be much more of a ball player but has changed his style as the role of the lock changed to more of a third front rower.”) as change is the antithesis of the true consistency you are holding my assessment to.

I have no issue with you believing Parker is a better player. We all have differing opinions and you can make a case for it for sure. He is certainly an exceptional player and a deserved Maroon and Australian representative. My issue is that you believe Gallen isn't a good player. That somehow his continued selection for Australia has been the work of the evil Sydney media (conveniently put forward with zero proof of course, just a hunch that politics exist everywhere so they must be at work in this instance). The guy carrying the ball, making the tackles, and topping the metres has nothing to do with it.

Far superior kicking game!

Can I come join your reality the one I've been mired in since leaving the cosy alturisiti confines of study is consantly assuaged by politics. Sometimes to my benefit, sometimes not, but defintiely omnipresent.

Each to their own on the embarrassing thing, I certainly don't feel that way, but a matter for yourself obviously. I also certainly don't think it's noise, that's for sure, for all those reasons above. Other than that, I don't have a cut and paste function on my phone here, so I dunno if there's much point just going round in circles on it. We disagree on who is better out of Paul Gallen and Corey Parker, and we're coming from entirely different angles on it and that's the way it goes. Fair enough, play on.

Lol well if you think Parker is better I can see why you would think Carlaw is too.... Spoon fed opinions from the broncos website I guess ;)

Alright you got me. I actually lol'ed a little when I read that. Carlaw was pretty good though. you know, for someone who didn't cheat with performance enhancers.

Carlaw was definitely one of the better players in QLD Cup.

OK, fair enough, despite saying this earlier, I really am downing tools for this one. Play on and enjoy.

forgot Smith there

I have no doubt it exists in all walks of life. But in reality a lot of it is just noise. And a ready made excuse to justify one's perceptions. Hence my use of the term conspiracy theory. A lot of "what ifs" in your justification of why Gallen is selected over Parker. "But but the media write about him a lot and stuff". The fact that you don't even consider Gallen a rep player is embarrassing. Your words were that he isn't "cr@p". Meaning you are not looking at the evidence in front of you, in terms of performance, and instead basing your opinion on something that isn't there. Both players are exceptional.

Carlaw was better than Gallen

So Gallen was picked in front of Parker because of the Sydney media. But why were Ashley Harrison and Dallas Johnson picked ahead of Parker for years? Neither of those guys are Telegraph or footy show darlings. Not to mention guys like Carl Webb and Dane Carlaw who were picked ahead of Parker for years. Did they all have the Sydney media on their side? Are they all better than Gallen? I'd happily consider any argument as to why someone thinks Parker is better than Gallen - Parker is very good - except for the old Sydney media conspiracy. It's weak and it's baseless.

Are we not done with this one yet? I don't think we are gonna reach agreement here. People who are happy to be spoon fed their opinions are going to think one thing, people who form opinions for themselves will think another.

Even though it might not seem like it, I have eyes too and I'm just calling it as I see it, based on my own experiences. To me, all of this is self evident but I suppose our own opinions always are. I can just do without the risk that Gallen brings to any team he plays in. In my opinion, there are better choices with better decision making who give you all the positives and much less of the negatives. Then there's the well-worn brand damage issue, but that's probably a whole other story...

I took that from your line "he has some stand out games sure but for greatness I would demand it to be a more regular trait" I read that as consistency. I'm surprised that's all you took from my comment.

“I find it surprising that you question his consistency. He regularly pulls in big numbers in metres and tackles. I also think there’s quality in his work. He’s regularly back to take the first couple of tough hit ups and takes two hit ups in a set more than anyone else in the comp.” And I’m surprised to find out that is what you took from a comment which led off with acknowledging he is a great player with workman like qualities to his game that make him an obvious chocie for rep teams.

Conspiracy theory is your term so feel free to fill your boots on that one. Being exposed to political beings a lot means you become very familiar with how things roll. As I say, politics exists everywhere and the NRL is certainly no exception - this has been well documented over the years in various forms, and in my opinion, this is just another example of it. Tribalism and parochialism is simultaneously the NRL's best and worst feature...to suppose that it doesn't exist in selection circles is...well mate, I just disagree.