Injured Barnes to miss six weeks

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Sidelined ... Berrick Barnes will undergo thumb surgery and will miss up to six weeks. Source: Tim Hunter / News Limited

Test and Waratahs inside back Berrick Barnes will be sidelined for up to six weeks after dislocating his right thumb.

The playmaker sustained the injury in the Waratahs 27-26 loss to South Africa's Cheetahs last Friday night. It was his Super Rugby appearance of the season after sustaining a knee injury in the pre-season.

Barnes was hopeful of a quick recovery, but he has taken medical advice to undergo surgery to repair the thumb which will limit his opportunities to show his wares ahead of the Wallabies mid-year Test series with the British and Irish Lions.

Injury-prone fellow Wallaby Rob Horne is expected to take Barnes' place at inside centre in the  Waratahs' team to play New Zealand's Blues at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.

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Geelong toss up a Twitter first

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Social media savvy ... Geelong fans will be able to take part in the coin toss in 2013. Source: Stephen Harman / News Limited

Geelong fans will be able to potentially influence the outcome of games in a world-first Twitter initiative.

Cats captain Joel Selwood will let fans decide through Twitter whether he chooses heads or tails at the traditional coin toss before the club's 11 away games this season.

Before he runs out on to the ground, Selwood will be informed by the Cats social media team the result of the poll where the fans will vote for heads or tails via #YourCall on the club's Twitter handle @GeelongCats.

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Should there be a significant wind advantage to one end of the ground, the toss of the coin takes on greater significance which places more importance on the fans getting it right.

Selwood, who has more than 40,000 followers on Twitter, welcomed the idea of getting the fans more involved.

"I'm a little more heads than tails (with the coin toss) but I'm really open to it," he said. "It gets us to interact with the fans a little bit more and gets them to have a bit of a say.

"I think it's huge and I think you'll see more of it (social media) in coming years. It's not too often you see, especially a player, sort of show you what you are doing before a game or even having an impact on what can happen in the game.

"We hope Geelong fans get involved, all football fans get involved in it, and we'll see how it goes.

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Fox Footy is the only place to see every game of the 2013 AFL regular season live in high definition and uninterrupted siren-to-siren.

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"It would certainly be nice to kick with the wind in Round 1 against the Hawks."

The idea stemmed from a recent fact-finding trip to the US by Geelong's Digital Media Manager Tom Peeters. He met with the New York Giants who'd tried to get it introduced for last year's NFL season but the club's football department rejected the idea.

Last year, the Cats became the first professional sports team in Australia to display their Twitter handle on their on-field apparel via the players pre-game warm-up tops.

They also have a 'Tweet the Coach' segment on Cats TV where fans can tweet their questions into senior coach Chris Scott each week.

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Check out the full 2013 AFL premiership season fixture list

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Arthur: Twitter "not worth it"

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Officially offline ... Mickey Arthur has walked from Twitter. Source: JULIAN SMITH / AAP

Mickey Arthur says being on Twitter is "not worth it" after the Australian coach on Tuesday quit the social-media network following a torrent of abuse over the sacking of the Mohali Four.

Arthur boasted more than 33,000 followers, but had not posted a single message since the suspension of Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja and James Pattinson last Monday week for failing to take part in a performance review.

The South Africa-born Arthur formally deleted his account on Tuesday morning, signing off with: "Thanks twitter, has been fun but deleting my account now! Thanks to all the genuine supporters out there."

While some social-network users were supportive of Arthur, many had used the platform to launch personal attacks on the 44-year-old, who has polarised opinion over the cultural shake-up of Australian cricket.

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Arthur on Tuesday explained why he decided to shut down his account as the Australian team flew out for Delhi for the fourth and final Test starting Friday.

"I just used it as a medium to get news really," he said.

"For me, it just wasn't really worth it now.

"I used it to stay in contact with a lot of mates.

"It's not earth-shattering news by any means. I think if you're on it you just open yourself up to that (abuse).

"There has been some very positive stuff as well, but it's not worth it.

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"I've got bigger things to worry about than Twitter to be honest."

Arthur immediately became the butt of jokes after announcing he was quitting the network.

"Mickey Arthur has deleted his Twitter a/c and thanked all his fans but that person is yet to reply," a parody Bill Lawry account tweeted shortly after.

Arthur's most controversial tweet came during the Australian summer as the shorter-form sides were exposed by Sri Lanka on the back of several senior players being rested.

Arthur tweeted: "For the last time there is NO rotation policy - it is player management!!! Appreciate your support Aussie fans, we only want to make you proud."

The former South African coach said he had no regrets over the demotion of the Mohali Four, despite a plethora of former Test stars lambasting the decision.

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"It was a stand I felt we needed to make," he said.

"The way the team has responded over the last week has been phenomenal.

"It's really been outstanding. In my opinion it was a hardline stance but it had to happen.

"You've got to understand that it was done with the team in mind, and it was done so we could make a real paradigm shift in where we were going to.

"Would I do it again? Yeah I would, because I think it was the right thing to do for this cricket team at this stage."

The fourth and final Test against India starts in Delhi on Friday, but the Aussies will be without quick Mitch Starc, who this morning flew home to have ankle surgery to ensure he is fit for the Ashes.

- with Sam Landsberger

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Smith lashes 'inconsistent' refs

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Not happy ... Cameron Smith lashes NRL refs regarding Billy Slaters hit on Antonio Winterstein. Source: Colin Whelan / AAP

Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith has called for greater consistency from NRL referees in officiating on the newly outlawed shoulder charge.

While teammate Billy Slater only escaped suspension through an early guilty plea after a hit on North Queensland winger Antonio Winterstein during Saturday night's game, Smith says he's already seen a number of other shoulder charges let go this season.

"For me, and I actually spoke to the referees during the game on Saturday night, we were told at the start of the year if there's any tackle made where there's no wrapping motion of the arms and it's just using your shoulder to bump someone, it's going to be penalised," Smith said.

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"I've seen every game that's been played this year and it's just been let go, until someone's hit high or it looks spectacular where someone's knocked off his feet."

Smith said he remained confused by the referees and judiciary interpretation of the shoulder charge rule brought in this year after similar incidents went unpunished throughout round two.

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On Monday night, South Sydney winger Nathan Merritt was overlooked after a questionable tackle on Cronulla's Matthew Wright.

"I'm not sure if the rules have changed within the referees where they interpret it differently now but, again, it's inconsistent," Smith said.

"Bill's (Slater) made a similar attempt to tackle as Nathan Merritt and there are two different outcomes.

		W	L	D	B	PD	Pts
1	Storm	2	0	0	0	42	4
2	Sea Eagles	2	0	0	0	40	4
3	Rabbitohs	2	0	0	0	20	4
4	Titans	1	1	0	0	34	2
5	Eels	1	1	0	0	26	2
6	Panthers	1	1	0	0	12	2
7	Broncos	1	1	0	0	8	2
8	Sharks	1	1	0	0	0	2
9	Knights	1	1	0	0	0	2
10	Bulldogs	1	1	0	0	-8	2
11	Cowboys	1	1	0	0	-10	2
12	Roosters	1	1	0	0	-16	2
13	Tigers	1	1	0	0	-22	2
14	Warriors	0	2	0	0	-32	0
15	Dragons	0	2	0	0	-36	0
16	Raiders	0	2	0	0	-58	0

"That's the frustrating thing for players and coaches - that inconsistency with rulings.

"If we could have the same things every week for every game there would be no dramas but at the moment it just seems to change every week."

Smith said he was certain the Storm hierarchy would take up the issue of the disparity in the Slater and Merritt cases with the referees' boss Daniel Anderson.

Meanwhile, Smith said the Storm were keenly anticipating the return of Canterbury's Ben Barba, who has been sidelined due to off-field issues.

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler says Barba will not be rushed into the side for Thursday's NRL grand final rematch at AAMI Park but Smith says the sooner the star fullback returns the better for the game.

"We're going to prepare as if he's going to be playing," Smith said.

"It will be good for our game if he's there, it will be good for the crowd if he's there because he's one of the guys in our competition who people pay money to come and watch.

"But if he's not then hopefully he's back on the paddock soon and everything is sorted out with him," Smith said.

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Aussie coach Mickey Arthur quits Twitter

Australia's head cricket coach Mickey Arthur has deleted his Twitter account. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIA cricket team coach Mickey Arthur grew tired of the vitriol he was receiving on Twitter and closed his account on Tuesday.

His action led to more criticism, jibes and abuse from some frustrated followers of the injury-hit and inexperienced Australian team who lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Monday when they slumped to the third straight Test loss of their India tour - where Australia has won only one Test series since 1970.

Last week's bombshell - when Arthur announced four players including vice-captain Shane Watson had been suspended from the third Test for failing to submit required assessments on how the team could improve - was clearly a sore point for some Twitter followers.

First the controversies during the summer of the resting of key players during a busy playing schedule, and now this.

And for Arthur, it was also the last straw.

With his third-ranked side trailing three-nil in the four-match series against India and the final Test starting in Delhi on Friday, Arthur will be bothered no longer by abusive Twitter followers.

"Thanks twitter,has been fun but deleting my account now!Thanks to all the genuine supporters out there," Arthur said on Twitter on Tuesday.

He later told reporters: "I just used it (Twitter) as a medium to get news really.

"For me, it just wasn't really worth it now.

"I used it to stay in contact with a lot of mates.

"If you're on it you just open yourself up to that (abuse).

"There has been some very positive stuff as well, but it's not worth it. I've got bigger things to worry about than Twitter to be honest."

A sample of the latest advice dished out to Arthur by one frequent tweeter @jimmyob13 may indicate why Arthur stopped using social media.

"Hey Mickey Mouse @MickeyArthur do you have enough quicks for 3rd test? Now it's going to be a seamer so I suggest you play 4 spinners...," the user posted on March 12.

The following day he wrote: "@MickeyArthur How's the team spirit this morn? Did they all wear the correct uniform? Did Hughes and Warner scrub skippers whites for him?"

Arthur's decision to close his account was greeted with more scorn on Twitter.

One tweeter, @adam_pearce13 said "It's about time you focus on the cricket anyway "

Another, @willderen tweeted to Arthur "You're an idiot.", @MarkCooper said "you suck", while @KevinWilde described Arthur's move to delete his account as "weak".

Arthur last week described the decision to suspend Watson, James Pattinson, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Johnson as a line-in-the-sand moment to create a better culture within the team after a series of disciplinary lapses by the team in general including lateness, backchat and attitude issues.

The homeworkgate affair was widely ridiculed in Australia, especially by ex-players.

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Live: NRL round three teams

Dropped ... Blake Ferguson will remain in NSW Cup this weekend. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Canberra coach David Furner has resisted the urge to rush back stood down winger Blake Ferguson for Sunday's NRL clash with struggling St George Illawarra.

Ferguson was dumped to the NSW Cup as a result of his role in the alcohol-fuelled bender which resulted in Josh Dugan being sacked by the club.

But despite the 36-point hammering by Gold Coast last Sunday, Furner has shown faith in the same backline, his only changes being the reinstatement of hooker Glen Buttriss to hooker and former Test prop Brett White to the engine room.

Ferguson is expected to continue doing his penance with Mounties in the NSW Cup.

Under-siege Dragons coach Steve Price has also opted not to ring in the changes in the face of an uninspiring 0-2 start to the season.

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There was speculation Price would offer a call-up for former Manly under-20s halfback Josh Drinkwater in a bid to add some spark to a side which has managed only three tries in 160 minutes of football.

Penrith have opted to throw former Parramatta and Wests Tigers utility Tom Humble the No.6 jumper for Sunday's meeting with South Sydney, after first-choice pivot Lachlan Coote was ruled out for the year following surgery on his pectoral muscle.

Sam Burgess has been reinstated to the Rabbitohs pack following his one-game ban, with Jeff Lima dropping back to the bench.

Timana Tahu will play his first game of the year in place of injured centre Dane Gagai when Newcastle host North Queensland Cowboys on Monday night.

Gagai faces six weeks on the sidelines after injuring his ankle in the 32-0 loss to Manly on Sunday.

With Ray Thompson sidelined for a month with torn ankle ligaments, Michael Morgan will play halfback for the Cowboys, who have dropped Tariq Sims to the Queensland Cup in a bid to get the blockbusting forward more game time.

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