I have absolutely no issue with a cocky half back - it's all part of asserting yourself as a little fella in the land of the giants; but you have to be delivering, or it just looks ridiculous - and Gale delivered - since his cheeky DG won them the match.
With regard to the head-rubbing and all that jazz - I don't like it either - it's gamesmanship to get a reaction - playing for a penalty; I didn't see the Delaney incident that way though - even Gale said afterwards that Delaney was taking the mick out of his hair transplant; so just a bit of harmless sledging?
Arguing with the ref however has become SOP now and it's no fun to watch - it needs sorting; as does the mysterious and rapidly recovered from injuries that players get at strategic times in the game; most often, after a break or before a GLDO.