So if following the coach's instructions and getting the win is the criteria, well Gallen deserves his MoM.
Not really sure what else he can do.
If a half floats behind the line in defense on the last play all match, ready for a sneaky kick, and diffuses say 20 dangerous attacking situations, gets smashed repeatedly for his efforts, but gets up and takes another catch, and everyone says "but he should be setting up tries", but the game and team don't give the half any attacking chances, I think he deserves praise for his extraordinairy defensive efforts, rather than blame for "tiring himself out".
Some games don't allow much other than forward charges. Finals are often like that. Origin matches too, except when NSW are so inept that anyone could beat them (i.e. NSW from most of the last 8 years).
If a match goes like that, then the forward who busts himself the most, makes the most metres, makes the best contribution to defense, still gets some attack going despite the hard slog, deserves the highest praise. Several NSW forwards were like that, but are being called selfish for busting themselves every play, when that is what the game called for, and that is what gave NSW the advantage.
When a change in tactic is needed, the halves job is to do that, and the NSW halves did it adequately enough to win. But they had some very good forwards giving them that chance. Unlike the QLD halves.
