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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Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin replied to Fiddy's discussion Burton to Eels?
"They should put Lorenzo in there now to get a guage on how he'll go.  Volkman isn't going great. Lorenzo will learn more with better players in fg"
6 minutes ago
Poppa replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Our big signing Jayden Sua badly injured
"sloth Have you watched Koloamatangi play this year? we were the underbidder at 1.2m , thank God we didn't get him, he is coming of the bench for Souths and makes and does fcuk all.
PS No I would not have loved getting him, there are a couple of good…"
10 minutes ago
Poppa replied to Fiddy's discussion Burton to Eels?
"Agree with LB and Yehez on this and especially the aspect of patience for the juniors, injuries and what we see from HIA's to ACL's are a part and parcel of putting a team together.
Well said guys, I hope you are right....Burton makes up for the…"
18 minutes ago
Yehez replied to Fiddy's discussion Burton to Eels?
"Not necessarily. I know Burton is against it but Lorenzo can stay in Cup till end of 2028 and then Burton moves to centre. 
I know we need to elevate juniors and I am on that bandwagon. But juniors need to get it like they can't just demand NRL…"
24 minutes ago
Snottie Pimpin replied to Adam Hayne's discussion Will Penisini Gone
"His decision making is bad and his 1 on 1 tackling is bad . How many times have you seen him have a guy dead to rights on a kick chase and the guy gets away? Or the opposition throw a loose ball out the back and he can't finish the tackle on the guy…"
26 minutes ago
LB replied to Fiddy's discussion Burton to Eels?
"If it was to happen, i am fine with it. Just more likely Lorenzo looks elsewhere either 2027 or 2028. But if Ryles feels Burton is better option, why not go for it. Would like to see Burton with a proper Halfback. Also, having a good goal kicker is…"
27 minutes ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Our big signing Jayden Sua badly injured
"EA, I know you're into Eels development more than most, but honestly look at the eels top 17 and tell us how many junior's have come through the system and are excelling in fg.  
There's f all, and there's many more of our development players doing…"
27 minutes ago
Yehez replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Our big signing Jayden Sua badly injured
"Were you saying the same about Keaon? He's 6 months younger than Su'A.
 "
40 minutes ago
Titan replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Our big signing Jayden Sua badly injured
"relax its a calf - he misses 6 weeks. Sucked in to Dragons for not letting him go early.
He will be fine for 2027
 "
46 minutes ago
EA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Our big signing Jayden Sua badly injured
"Tuivita did a syndesmosis and MCL last year and this year has done his shoulder. 3 injuries in 1.5 years. Why should we resign a player that has been injury prone their full NRL career. Send him of the SL now lol."
55 minutes ago
fake midget pseudoachondroplasia replied to Adam Hayne's discussion Will Penisini Gone
"Defensive technique for a backrower vs a centre is very different as there is less space.  I don't think his 1 on 1 is to bad it is more his decision making putting him in wrong position where players with speed expose him. 
Can't be any worse than…"
56 minutes ago
Hell On Eels replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Our big signing Jayden Sua badly injured
"Panthers have Gardner (30) and Papali'i (28 this year). I suppose we could swap recruitment for you Chief, hypthothetically. Them for Su'a, Wiliams, Kautoga, Samrani, Tuilagi."
1 hour ago
JC replied to Roy tannous's discussion Is this the bench moving foward
"Spot on, that's because we have had to change the way we play because of the speed of the game caused by all the set restarts. 
We have had to put the offloads and short passing game away because possession is key more so than ever, errors kill. The…"
1 hour ago
JC replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Our big signing Jayden Sua badly injured
"Hopgood still here in 28?, i hope not, mate he is pretty much washed and is nowhere near the player he was before doing his back 2 years ago."
1 hour ago
JC replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Our big signing Jayden Sua badly injured
"Good,  the less games he plays for the dragons this year the less wear and tear on his body.
We do need to sign some older experienced players, particularly forwards as we have quite a few young inexperienced players coming into first grade,…"
1 hour ago
Snottie Pimpin replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Our big signing Jayden Sua badly injured
"Sua is in the sweet spot of his career . 29,30,31 years are a great time to get him. "
1 hour ago
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Keaon done deal

As of Thursday, December 11, 2025, South Sydney Rabbitohs forwardKeaon Koloamatangi has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Parramatta Eels, but it is not yet officially announced by the clubs.  Soon to be announced.

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14 Replies · Reply by Poppa Jan 9
Views: 2441

 

Is this the bench moving foward

14-Tayln da Silva-Getting better with more games under his belt and electric.15.Dylan Walker-Our X factor of the bench and good attacking threat.16.Sam t-Big bopper and tank17.Toni matele-Same as tuivati big bopper to and will run through a brick…

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5 Replies · Reply by JC 1 hour ago
Views: 206

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