Ashes Third Test, Headingley

Australia lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test at Edgbaston and drawing at Lord's.

The Aussies will be without former captain and the best batsman in the world after Steve Smith was ruled out with concussion following a Jofra Archer bouncer that struck him on the neck in his first innings at Lord's.

Marnus Labuschagne is expected to fill Smith's spot like he did at Lord's when he entered the fray as Test cricket's first ever concussion substitute where he scored an admirable 59 runs, helping to steer Australia to a draw on the final day.

It's expected that Peter Siddle will drop out of the side to allow for the return of James Pattinson who was rested for the second Test. Mitchell Starc seems destined to remain on drinks duty.

England meanwhile are expected to name an unchanged 11 although they may tinker with the make up of the batting order. Joe Root has struggled at first drop, while Jason Roy has failed to make the switch from opening in the ODI team to becoming a Test opener. Root is expected to move down to four with Joe Denly jumping into the number three position.

Many are talking about the effect of Jofra Archer's entry into Test cricket. Interestingly, his debut performance lands him as just the 312th best bowler on debut with overall figures of 5/91. He need only look across at his opponents in Pat Cummins (7/117) and Josh Hazlewood (7/142) who had better debut figures.

The Headingley pitch is rumoured to be a slow deck that will crumble and break up towards the end of the match. An interesting decision by the ground staff there given Australia's Nathan Lyon has been collecting wickets for fun and spun the English into knots in the first Test.

As always the toss will be important and Tim Paine will be hoping his luck continues. This will likely be a bat first pitch because no one will be looking to bat last on a decaying deck.

Play starts at 8pm AEST tonight so get your picture-in-picture going or set up a second screen to make sure you don't miss the first ball while watching the Eels belt the Dogs.

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Perpetual Motion replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Lomax has blown up his own career. And for what?
"Apart from his $4 million dollar mortgage."
2 hours ago
Parra fan on The Hill replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Lomax has blown up his own career. And for what?
"Nothing stopping Lomax joining the Storm's catering team to flip burgers on gamedays. "
4 hours ago
Flow Basket replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Lomax has blown up his own career. And for what?
"What's ryles contract who's replacing Bellamy "
5 hours ago
The Captain replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Lomax has blown up his own career. And for what?
"This is why there needs to be better regulations and codes of conduct for Player Managers.
NRL players are young, they are trained to take risks and ignore their brain telling them to stop. Is it any wonder there are so many poor decisions made off…"
5 hours ago
Poppa replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Lomax has blown up his own career. And for what?
"By implacation it means the 97.50% really is not an issue until 30/6 and you can juggle, front loading. paying bonuses etc really up untill the end of season.
If you still have a million in the bank at 30/6 that juggling comes into…"
8 hours ago
Randy Handlinger replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Lomax has blown up his own career. And for what?
"He only saw the reflection of money"
8 hours ago
will replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Lomax has blown up his own career. And for what?
"It was more than just money that made R360 desirable for Lomax.
It was the 15 game season that meant his body would endure less wear and tear. 
He still believes R360 will go ahead in 2028
 "
8 hours ago
LB replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Lomax has blown up his own career. And for what?
"The word i was given was that R360 was too good to pass up as you said HOE, he saw the money and wanted in. There is nothing wrong with that either."
8 hours ago
Coryn Hughes replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Lomax has blown up his own career. And for what?
"I think another bigger issue there LB is lack of the talent mentioned and expansion.An advantage we have is being in a position to buy which at least we are.For me it's just tough sledding.I mean we'll probably be in even better shape next year too.…"
9 hours ago
Adam Magrath replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Lomax has blown up his own career. And for what?
"I'm not sure we are in a position where we "need" to do anything. That's not a great place to be. If we want to be like those clubs you've mentioned we should start behaving like them, and that's what we are seeing the beginnings of right now. "
11 hours ago
Hell On Eels replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Lomax has blown up his own career. And for what?
"Yes, clubs must spend a minimum 97.5% of the cap. Top 30 settled by 30 June. We have over five months to pick up handy mid-season buys like Walker or TDS last year. We aren't panicking or as desperate as we have been in the past or we would have…"
11 hours ago
Perpetual Motion replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Lomax has blown up his own career. And for what?
"He bought the McMansion before he had a secure contract. Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb.
Financial pressure mounts day by day as he remains unemployed.
Not on the Eels. Not on the Storm.
On him."
13 hours ago
LB replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Lomax has blown up his own career. And for what?
"I think by Round 1 I believe? Not 100% sure on the 97.5% question.
As for your idea of having players come to us instead of chasing. Not happening, we are not Roosters or Melbourne or Penrith where you ring their agent and they want to go…"
14 hours ago
Hell On Eels replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Lomax has blown up his own career. And for what?
"LB, perceived fair value and expectations are important nuances.
If a player feels undervalued, grievance is inevitable. If he’s overpaid, pressure intensifies. And if he’s unhappy, money won’t fix it.
I don’t buy the idea elite players take huge…"
15 hours ago
Poppa replied to SuperEel 22's discussion Lomax has blown up his own career. And for what?
"Adam, see hereunder, the bottom line is that what you are referring to is essentially the end of the season.
This makes sense as many variables will ocur, a mature management process would be structured to represent all sorts of contingencies and…"
15 hours ago
Webby replied to Squire's discussion Where to stay Round 1 2026 v Storm
"Mantra a good choice, nice rooms, pool, spa.
Easy walk over the bridge to the sporting precinct, bit of a walk into the city but not to bad.
Hopefully we go better than last year, that was a hard sit in the stands "
16 hours ago
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ANY MORE SIGNINGS???

I've been frustrated recently about the work we have been doing in the open market. Jonah's alright for a year and JDB is solid but he's getting old. I feel we need more in the forwards and some a replacement outside back. All I have seen is links…

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