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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Poppa replied to Eels2025's discussion Anyone else feel like this week against Tigers is make or break?
"We have not really seen any "political type movements" in aspect of our revival, we saw BA go inevitably.....everybody's scapegoat MON has survived....I do not see the argument for Ryles not having the political cattle to survive.
That said…"
8 minutes ago
Nightmare Off-Season replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Club Statement
"'Plus if you get dominated in the ruck ,and if the opposition dominate the run land on their front , they get a quick play the ball and we're left stranded with players out of position' - This is what im seeing also, Chief.
Maybe attitude isn't…"
23 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Eels2025's discussion Anyone else feel like this week against Tigers is make or break?
"That's the issue considering the boards first choice wasn't JR to start with they can use that as leverage to protect themselves.Yes I know a weak position but if it's between the coach that wasnt there favourite over there own jobs from what I'm…"
33 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Club Statement
"ATITUDE When in doubt I think that's the measure."
47 minutes ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Club Statement
"Plus if you get dominated in the ruck ,and if the opposition dominate the run land on their front , they get a quick play the ball and we're left stranded with players out of position. 
 
Thats how you dominate possession and defence,  which we are…"
1 hour ago
Jiver replied to Eels2025's discussion Anyone else feel like this week against Tigers is make or break?
"I hope Guymer and Moretti come into the starting side with Tuilagi and Walker back to the bench."
1 hour ago
LB replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 5 Team List v Wests Tigers
"Great point on the juniors. Joash playing let's Twidle get game time. Lorenzo gets game time regardless of Joash playing NRL or not but Twidle getting some needed game time."
1 hour ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Club Statement
"Fm we've lost every forward battle so far. Every team have smashed through the eels pack easily.  You can't blame that on referees mate.
With the personal we have i can't see anything changing.   We have the bottom 3 pack in the comp , probably…"
1 hour ago
Nightmare Off-Season replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Club Statement
"Great points also."
2 hours ago
fake midget pseudoachondroplasia replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Club Statement
"Some teams do better Coryn because they are given more time in the ruck, have a smaller 10m defensive line and can jump early cutting down time for the attackers to gain momentum.
Everyone sees it especially the 10m at the game, everyone knows which…"
2 hours ago
The Captain replied to Eels2025's discussion Anyone else feel like this week against Tigers is make or break?
"Fair call on Fletcher - I just worry that Ryles isn't going to have the political capital to last through 2 more years of rebuild before we get the two most influential positions in the team (the halves).
I hope we hold the line with Ryles and can…"
2 hours ago
Nightmare Off-Season replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Club Statement
"Good questions, Coryn.
You feel its first contact first & foremost?
The thing for me is at the end of 2025, we were great defensively as the Eels seemed to be 100% cohesive.
So what has changed? 
- We haven't handled the change to ruck speed as well…"
2 hours ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Club Statement
"The question is why are some teams a hell of alot better defending the ruck than what we are.
Part of it undoubtedly is talent but there's technique coaching and other mentionables.Some teams have been good at defending the ruck for years and yet…"
3 hours ago
Carlos Marrickvillian replied to ParramattaLurker's discussion Round 5 Team List v Wests Tigers
"I'm still a fan of the Pezet signing but I would prefer he was there just as a back up 7 for Mitch not as a 6. With Joash now getting some time at 1 its a great opportunity to offer Apa or Lorenzo a few games at 6 to see how it goes. Theres way more…"
3 hours ago
Nightmare Off-Season replied to Eels2025's discussion Anyone else feel like this week against Tigers is make or break?
"Get where you are coming from for sure, and I know it's a cop-out, but honestly its how this game plays out - especially how we start - that is more important than the result for me.
There's been a lot of justification of our defence due to…"
3 hours ago
Nightmare Off-Season replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Club Statement
"Nailed it with ‘over-compensating’ Alfred, although Kelma was poor defensively last week, he had to cover Moses’ man more than once as Mitch was pushed off (Papalli targeted him).
Kutouga has had a lot of work to do due to Pezet, and it's not just…"
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: 2264

 

An idea

Wondering last night and what people thought, imo walker is most effective off the bench, can we start ryley at 13 and talyn at 9 with walker on the bench, then you bring in walker to lock, ryley to 9 and talyn to the bench for a break?

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3 Replies · Reply by LB yesterday
Views: 331

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