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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SuperEel 22 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion This guy free to speak to other clubs soon
"Sam's managed by Cove Agency, which is not Isaac Moses."
9 minutes ago
SuperEel 22 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion This guy free to speak to other clubs soon
"We definitely did. Kaufusi was further down the development path given he went from Flegg to NRL in 2018. He also wasn't demanding $800K a year before he debuted when we had 2 of the best starting front rowers in the game."
26 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Poppa's discussion Poppa's Corner: We made a mistake, lets admit it, move forward; and it looks like we are overrated!
"💯 great post here NoS.
See you can't lose DB and Lomax in the space of 12 months and replace them with Simonsson & Pezet and think as a FG side we are better off they aren't like for like replacements the talent gap of the lost and replacements are…"
44 minutes ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion This guy free to speak to other clubs soon
"3 years. For a Prop let's not go crazy. I think signing til 2029 is fair and reasonable. "
47 minutes ago
Longfin Eel replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion This guy free to speak to other clubs soon
"Agreed. He will be the leader of the forward pack in a few years. In the meantime he has some old heads in Paulo, Walker and De Belin to provide some guideance, along with of course JR who was himself a rep quality forward. Sam is the type of player…"
48 minutes ago
Muttman replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion This guy free to speak to other clubs soon
"If Isaac Moses is his manager I can guarantee he'll go to the open market and sign with the highest bidder. We will literally have to outbid the market to keep him. If we know he's special who cares if he's only played a handful of NRL games. We…"
48 minutes ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion This guy free to speak to other clubs soon
"I would, if anything, argue we kept Kaufusi instead of Utoikamanu. Not Alvaro."
49 minutes ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion This guy free to speak to other clubs soon
"It's whatever the NRL decides on the day depending on club and player."
50 minutes ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion This guy free to speak to other clubs soon
"Yeah we should be in negotiations to extend but to play devil's advocate, if we signed him til 2030 on good money after 10 games and he fails? Imagine that. Isaac Moses is his manager and that could help or make it worse but not too concerned at the…"
51 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Poppa's discussion Poppa's Corner: We made a mistake, lets admit it, move forward; and it looks like we are overrated!
"Maybe it's as simple as French doesn't want to comeback.
Lifestyle money I have no doubt he's set himself up for life he doesn't need to comeback here and prove himself.
ESL is his high tide and he's reached the peak of that mountain while…"
52 minutes ago
SuperEel 22 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion This guy free to speak to other clubs soon
"We didn't? Alvaro was loaned to the Warriors during 2020 and was then released to St George. He played one game in the opening 12 weeks of the season. We definitely weren't prioritising him. Stefano had signed with the Tigers in early 2020. "
54 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Poppa's discussion Poppa's Corner: We made a mistake, lets admit it, move forward; and it looks like we are overrated!
"Panthers and halves these guys are miles ahead of us I see they've got Jet Cleary and young Hansen stashed away at the Warriors doing there time out of sight of the world using there old man's connection to the warriors.This is why I know we are…"
56 minutes ago
LB replied to Poppa's discussion Poppa's Corner: We made a mistake, lets admit it, move forward; and it looks like we are overrated!
"Some on here NOS mention Talataina might not be ready til at least 2028. So if that's the case do we go with Joash? Or a stop gap? Or just throw him in?"
1 hour ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion This guy free to speak to other clubs soon
"Leke Haliasima 2029
Naufahu Whyte 2029
Finu Latu. 2028
Thats how well managed clubs roll"
1 hour ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion This guy free to speak to other clubs soon

We kept Daniel Alvaro over Stefano Utokimanu.  Go figure that one out genius "
1 hour ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion This guy free to speak to other clubs soon
"Yes spot on Angry"
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
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