Apart from that they are linked by one thing: Gould's belief that Gallen is a selfish player.

Like everyone in the NRL, Gallen has enormous regard for Gould's rugby league mind and opinions. He doesn't question his right to have a point of view, he just doesn't get it.

With Gould's words still hanging in the air at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night, I stopped Gallen for a chat in the tunnel outside the Blues dressing room and told him of Gould's view.

"I play to my coach's game plan," Gallen said. "That's what the coach wants me to do. I play that role. If I was a selfish player I wouldn't be getting picked for NSW or Australia, or my club side. It's said by people who are not in the inner sanctum. I've got a job to do in the team ... too much gets made of my performance. It's about me doing a job for the team."

Gallen doesn't look for enemies and doesn't want one in Gould. Gould didn't name Gallen, instead saying it was team leaders who were selfish.

"The guys that I'm working with are not [selfish]," NSW coach Laurie Daley said. "They have come a long way. I've seen a real development and change in them.

"Inside this group they all believe in the senior players and they all want to learn from the senior players. Everyone can have their own opinion, but until you are in the inner sanctum you don't know how it works."

There is some chance when Gallen calls it quits he will be in a commentary box with Gould, because both are excellent communicators. It would be great for them to sort through their differences long before then.

Gallen was given about 50minutes in Origin II and while he was on the field the Blues were neck and neck with Queensland and they also made a charge back into the game when he returned to the field.

As for not getting a farewell match, you can be sure that if Gallen was a Queenslander he'd have a state behind him for all the effort he had put in for the jumper.

Radradra's days are numbered

Destination unknown: Semi Radradra. Photo: Getty Images

Sadly for Parramatta fans, the worst is still to come in relation to Semi Radradra with the very real possibility that all of his private issues are about to become public. And if that happens it will make the likelihood of a long-term commitment at the club slim. He is deeply unhappy off the field. He has been living with friends and has not approached his football with the professionalism, in terms of preparation, that he should. He has been getting by on pure talent – something he has miles of.

It will take considerable work from the Parramatta welfare department and coach Brad Arthur to bring him back to where the club needs him to be. He is also dealing with his father's poor health in Fiji and the need to support family in his homeland.

I wore plenty of criticism for daring to break the news that Semi was on a plane to Fiji, and saying he's not coming back. He told those close to him that he was done with Parramatta, the NRL and Australia, and the club knew of his intentions, but were not having a bar of it.

The Eels made  inquiries with the NRL about Semi having a stint in French rugby from August to April – maybe earlier if the Eels' season was mathematically over. That was before the magnitude of his situation became known publicly.

There is an agreement between Semi and French club Bordeaux for a short contract worth around $500,000 after tax. Written into that contract was a clause that if the NRL would not give him a release, he could exit the game. None of this should have been a shock for the Eels.

Radradra's confirmation that he was facing an uncertain future the day after the Eels put out their second media  release  of the week denying there was a problem sent a shiver through the Eels. The Eels tried to present a story that Jarryd Hayne and Radradra would be playing with the club next year. That's a way off – and even if Semi does return, it's difficult to see him being here as his personal problems multiply.

Fifita's special thanks for his 'foster mum'

Touching moment: Andrew Fifita with his 'foster mum' Rachel McLean. Photo: Channel Nine

In the aftermath of a heart-breaking loss to Queensland, there was a heart-warming moment. Shortly after the full-time siren sounded an emotional Andrew Fifita looked towards the crowd. He knew he had someone special in the audience watching.

Fifita, as is his way, gave the biggest and tightest hug to a woman. He ripped his jumper off and handed it to her. "It was just a small way of saying thank you," he said.

The woman is Rachel McLean.

"I've got a mum, but she is what I call my foster mum," he said. "Growing up I was in and out of home ... I ran away a fewtimes and she was always my go-to person. She was therefor me growing up. And when I went through some hard times recently she was theone who supported me and stood by me."

Snake eyes 2018

Brett Stewart is not keen on calling it a day in the NRL and has been talking about playing in 2018.

Something that certainly has notbeen discussed is a move to France to play with his brother Glenn. There is a thought Stewart would benefit from playing on both sides of the field again, rather than being limited to the left side of the field. As for being told to look at other clubs, that hasn't been relayed to Stewart.

Captain pick

The push for Boyd Cordner to be the next long-term Blues skipper is strong. The playing group wants him, and there is also love for him from team management and the coach.

If he ends up as skipper it will be a reward for one of the most decent blokes in the game who has battled a career worth of adversity in his young professional life. Aaron Woods is shaping as a strong deputy.

Bunny business

Addressing the troops: Michael Maguire has reportedly tried to soften his approach. Photo: Getty Images

There has been a significant shift in the hard-line approach of Michael Maguire towards his players. And there has been a public attempt to soften his image. But word keeps doing the rounds that the Bunnies have been sniffing around for coaches at other clubs.

Agents are aware and so are rival teams, but it's hard to say for certain if the coach Souths are looking for is to replace Maguire, or to work with him. If you listen to Souths boss Shane Richardson, Maguire is safe, and not just for the short team. As long as Richardson is at the club, he will have Maguire's back. So the coach hunt that clubs are aware of may be for other roles at the club.

What is interesting is Maguire opening up with his family for a Footy Show chat. In the world of Souths, this is important. There is a feeling in the player market that Souths is a hard sell for players. The common thought is that players don't want to be flogged by Maguire. An attempt to show the real person that he is – a decent family man – may help. It's a case of watch this space.

Keary's crowing

All the speculation about Luke Keary's future was just that in the end with his late decision to join the Roosters. His agent, Paul Sutton, was never confident Keary would join the Dragons. In fact, if the money at Melbourne had been above rookie level, he would have gone there. Instead, he went to the club that would annoy Russell Crowe the most, the Roosters. Kind of fitting considering the reason  Keary wanted out in the first place.

Party-poopers

Manly had hoped to give one of their favourite sons, skipper Jamie Lyon, a high-profile farewell. They asked the NRL for their last Brookvale match of the year to be a Sunday game. The draw for the back end of the season has just come out and instead it's a Saturday afternoon. Tosay the Sea Eagles are miffed is putting it mildly.

Smith at ease

Former NRL boss Dave Smith is looking young, fit and happy. It's amazing what escaping the high-pressure world of the NRL can do. This columnist bumped into him shopping last Saturday morning. Asfar as work goes, he is just doing "bits and pieces" at the moment. Without divulging the nature of a private conversation, it's fair to say he is enjoying the rise of the Sharks.

If wall could talk

The Blues know how the story about the broken wall at Suncorp came out. There was a Queensland official and Cooper Cronk with the Blues players and ASADA officials.

Salary sacrifice

The Tigers' logic that Robbie Farah is in some way preventing them from restructuring the club and moving on is odd. That's the line being pushed by the club. What they are conveniently ignoring is that Farah back-ended his contract with the club for a simple reason – to help the club get through a tight spot when it came to the salary cap. Farah is owed the money by the club and he deserves it and shouldn't be made to feel guilty because of it.

Sam's the man

Spotted in Gusto coffee shop at Coogee: Sam Burgess having a latte with members of the English rugby team. Burgess copped a very raw deal wearing unfair amounts of criticism for England's home World Cup failure. It was also suggested that players couldn't cop him. That didn't look like the case when he was having a warm chat with his mates.

Danny Weidler is a Nine reporter