Phil Gould's criticism of NSW State of Origin captain Paul Gallen has become personal, according to Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan who also believes the Blues skipper deserves a game three farewell.
Former NSW coach Gould again took aim at Gallen in the wake of another Origin series loss, labelling the Blues leadership "selfish", as calls continue for the veteran Sharks skipper to step down from Origin III.
Flanagan doesn't plan to speak with Penrith supremo Gould about his latest critique, but the Sharks mentor said on Friday it was unwarranted.
"I think it has become personal those comments. Let's just judge Gal on his performance," Flanagan said on Friday.
"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 (Origin) game."
Flanagan said he wouldn't talk with Gould about his comments, which came after he called for Gallen to be excluded from the Blues side for the last two series.
"I haven't gone down that path and I won't be," Flanagan said.
"Gus has earned the rights to make comments on rugby league, but I don't agree with them and Gal's form speaks for itself."
Flanagan urged the Blues hierarchy and fans to look at another series loss with some perspective.
"We need to stop eating ourselves. Let's applaud the Queensland side. It is hard for me to say that but they are a quality side and they are just too good," he said.
"We could pick another side, there is a lot of speculation as to who should be in and who should be out, but it is going to be the same result."
Blues coach Laurie Daley has already declared will pick representative retirement-bound Gallen for game three in Sydney next month, despite calls for players to be blooded in the dead rubber match.
That means the Sharks will miss Gallen for their round 18 NRL clash with Penrith. But that doesn't worry Flanagan.
"I hope he gets picked," he said.
"I am not thinking about Cronulla in those types of things. I would like to see him go out in his last Origin. He has been a great servant for NSW.
"He hasn't had the results while we have been there but he has great passion and pride in that NSW jersey."
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