*sigh* What did I say about not wanting to turn this into a matter of semantics?
The problem I have is your use of the word fathom. I've explained the rationale behind the selection, so you should be able to understand it, but you simply disagree with it. Looking back I think that's what you meant, otherwise those are some fighting words, mister.
Origin 1 2013 showed how important it is to have a good minder against JT and McQueen did a job. Is he the long term option? Who knows, but right now, he has the job.
Gillett still needs to prove himself. One solid performance where he made a couple of important tackles (eg. on Dugan on half-way) and made a few half-breaks that lead to opportunities isn't enough to cement him a role of JT's minder - especially when his defence is very sketchy.
Need I replay the Moa try from last week?
It wasn't semantics, and of course my point is that I don't agree with your opinion, but it's yours to have!
And while we're at it, my point also is that being JT's minder should not be the main job description of the left edge backrower. Once that is out of the way, essentially so should McQueen, because he brings nothing to the side.
His defense was not sketchy at all during Origin, and hasn't been sketchy this year either. Bringing up isolated incidents like the Moa one is bit desperate, because there is no player in the NRL I couldn't find similar or worse mistakes from. Gillett's defensive issues have always been:
1- Jumping out of the line and missing his target (this one accounts for the overwhelming majority of his missed tackle count the last couple of seasons), which he didn't do in Origin and seems to have under control this season for the Broncos as well.
2- Lateral movement when sliding on the right side of the defense, which he funny enough doesn't seem to suffer from on the left side.
On the plus side, he can run either powerfully or step through the line, he can offload and for a big guy, has relatively good ball handling skills and even kicking. In defense he tackles hard, rushes the opposition half like very few and is a pretty handy guy to have as a kick chaser too.
He needs to find more consistency and less brain snaps, and hopefully he does, but as it is now, he is a player in the Luke Lewis mould, that every team would like to have.
I don't want to bog down this thread with a Gillett discussion, but I think that as far as second rowers go, when in form, Thaiday, Parker, Papalii, Gillett and Te'o are the ones that should be selected. McQueen isn't even in the same postcode.
Re our front row, Scott, Myles, Hannant (sorry AP, this guy is certainly worthy of the Qld jersey when fit and in form) and Lillyman should be a more than apt rotation, with McGuire, Lawrence and potentially Kennedy waiting in the shadow, we aren't in as much trouble as we thought only a couple of years ago.
