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 Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Eels demand 1 of 3 Storm stars in exchange for Zac Lomax
"We have so many second rowers, Warbrick is one head knock away from retirement. We would take Steph or Coates but melbourne are not giving them up. More likely to come down to if Ryles thinks Howarth is a fair value replacement and then Howarth has…"
35 minutes ago
Perpetual Motion replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Eels demand 1 of 3 Storm stars in exchange for Zac Lomax
"And a micro pig."
45 minutes ago
LB replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Eels demand one of three Storm stars in exchange for Zac Lomax
"Would take any of them. Or as the girl said in the Old El Paso ad "Why not both?" Or change it to "Why not all?"
Dah dah dah dah da da da.
Of course, and they have every right to, offer us fringe nobodies for an International Winger. I mean they are…"
54 minutes ago
Perpetual Motion replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Eels demand 1 of 3 Storm stars in exchange for Zac Lomax
"The pressure is on Lomax. He is unemployed and has a McMansion to keep up payments on.
Without a Wallabies top up the average value of a Super Rugby Australian player contract is estimated to be around $100,000 to $150,000 AUD per year. The minimum…"
1 hour ago
Perpetual Motion replied to Roy tannous's discussion Does anyone know what it is ?
"Totally worth it! "
1 hour ago
Randy Handlinger replied to Roy tannous's discussion Does anyone know what it is ?
"but PROVEN PREDICTIONS!!!!FANTASY HELP!!!!"
1 hour ago
BringBackSemi replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Eels demand 1 of 3 Storm stars in exchange for Zac Lomax
"Ok to even up the ledger, how about we take Howarth, and the Storm also take Matterson for this season? That gets rid of Matto a season early."
2 hours ago
Darren Munro replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Eels demand 1 of 3 Storm stars in exchange for Zac Lomax
"100% like for like is coates. Coates or nobody. "
2 hours ago
Perpetual Motion replied to Roy tannous's discussion Does anyone know what it is ?
"For the totally reasonable price of 60 bux you can find out! "
2 hours ago
KENDOZA replied to Roy tannous's discussion Does anyone know what it is ?
"Maybe he meant to put CM instead cam munster lol"
3 hours ago
KENDOZA replied to Roy tannous's discussion Does anyone know what it is ?
"Maybe he meant to put CM instead cam munster lol"
3 hours ago
Gucci replied to Roy tannous's discussion Does anyone know what it is ?
"What done? What deal?"
3 hours ago
KENDOZA replied to Roy tannous's discussion Does anyone know what it is ?
"Nostra is full of shit"
3 hours ago
Yehez replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Eels demand 1 of 3 Storm stars in exchange for Zac Lomax
"Utoikumanu is not coming here. They won't let him go unless it means they get Tino, but I think they want both. 
Coates and Howarth are doable IMO."
3 hours ago
BEM replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Eels demand 1 of 3 Storm stars in exchange for Zac Lomax
"Howarth and Stefano aren't origin and Australian players.
They are also forwards which we don't need. We need some quality in the backline.
The only swap we should be considering is Coates and that ain't happening so Lomax and the Storm can fuck…"
3 hours ago
Perpetual Motion replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Eels Dig In on Player Release, Demand Fair Value in Any Deal
"Jack Howarth has been selected for the Queensland State of Origin squad as a reserve and was in the extended squad for Game II of the 2025 series but didn't play a senior game, being ruled out of Game I by injury and Game III by appendicitis, so…"
3 hours 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: 1916

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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