Room 101: Paul Arnold – Fylde player/coach
Controversial, I know, but as a massive fan of the type of expansive rugby you get in the Super 15. I think doing away with the threat of the dreaded drop would encourage teams in the Northern Hemisphere to adopt a similar approach to the game. I think the financial repercussions of relegation in this country means teams set up defensively to win games and take very little risk when they do have the ball, making the game – to the outsider anyway – dull on the eye. Being from St Helens, which is very much a Rugby League town, I’m always trying to defend ‘kick and clap’ as it is known in these parts, but even I find myself turning off Premiership rugby on the TV because of the amount of kicking that takes place. I think if we ring-fenced the Premiership and made it a 15 team league with no relegation the coaches would adopt a more attacking style of play, players would be able to express themselves and skill levels would improve, thus helping the national side in the long term.
TRP verdict: Forget kick and clap, it’s a huge boo and a hiss for suggesting ring-fencing. You’re out.
2. Queue jumpers
I can’t stand people who queue jump. Airports and bars are the worst where it’s a mad rush to try and get on the plane to find a seat or where people try to push in front of you at the bar to get their booze! I went off on a short break abroad this week and, lo and behold, people’s habits haven’t changed. Queue jumpers were out in force at Cadbury’s World the other week, too. I was there with my wife and kids and the amount of people trying to push past us was ridiculous. I resorted to clipping their ankles with my son’s wheelchair, which proved a good form of therapy.
TRP verdict: They can take a running jump! You’re in.
3. Dirty Dog owners
I’m turning into a Grumpy Old Man because I could have come up with hundreds of options for Room 101. Promotion from National One (so we don’t have to play Championship Rugby) and Sky Sports’ Rugby League ‘personalities’ Eddie & Stevo just miss out with Dog Owners who fail to clean up their pet’s mess getting the nod instead. Nothing is worse than walking my daughter to school whilst having to constantly keep a vigilant eye out for the smelly brown stuff that has invariably been left on the pavement. Last week, while out in my car, I spotted two blokes in their 60’s, wearing their flat caps and walking their whippets, who were happy to let one of their dogs empty himself on someone else’s driveway. I ended up driving up to them and making them go back and clean it up.
TRP verdict: You’re right to cry foul. That’s 2 out of 2.
