Stickybeak, I am sure you have good grounds to believe that players in this year's Joeys team were hard done by in the GPS selections, but the arguments you have presented seem to contradict your assertion.
If the Joey boys in question have both exceptional individual skills (that would hold them in good stead at the next level) and they are great team players as well, why aren't Joeys results in this year's GPS comp reflecting this position?
I believe Junior Rep teams should be a tool for development of talented players, and not selected on the basis of picking a winning rep team at the next level (If this approach was adopted selectors might be tempted to pick established 'well coached' combinations over talented individuals).
Under my junior rep team philosophy (of picking talented individuals for exposure to higher levels of coaching and competition leading to future development quality senior players). I have seen teams like Kings in 2010 still (rightly) getting good representation at GPS and higher level rep teams, due to the players individual talents, despite disappointing results as a team.
Conversely, I have seen good teams winning comps, but not dominating representation at the next level, because the selectors are of the opinion that exceptional teamwork has got the results despite the team not having lots of individuals with exceptional talents. I don't have a problem with this outcome.
However I repeat, I haven't seen a team of exceptionally talented individuals, who also play well drilled rugby as a team (as you assert is the case with Joeys), get disappointing results.
If you can present a compelling argument that the Joeys boys had the superior talent as individuals I would share your disappointment.
