Rumours of Joel Dry to join Melissa Downes??
Yes, read up - came from a Daily Mail article.
JOEL DRY ANNOUNCED TO JOIN MELISSA DOWNES ON 9NEWS QUEENSLANDâS FLAGSHIP 6.00PM BULLETIN
Nine today announced the appointment of highly respected journalist Joel Dry as the new co-presenter of 9News Queenslandâs 6.00pm bulletin, alongside Melissa Downes. Joel will commence his role in August.
This appointment marks a significant return to Nine for Joel, who first began his television reporting career with the network in Adelaide in September 2009. He subsequently moved to Channel 9 Queensland in December 2011 and later served as a federal politics reporter for Channel 9 in Canberra.
Joel is stepping into the role previously held by the esteemed Andrew âLoftyâ Lofthouse, who retired earlier this year.
Melissa Downes, 9News Queensland presenter said, "This is an exciting time for 9News Queensland, a regeneration, and I know the team will be just as delighted as I am to have Joel joining me on the 6.00pm news desk. I know he will bring a new energy to the newsroom and his insightful reporting will add depth to our bulletin, offering our viewers an even richer understanding of the stories that matter most.
âWe are thrilled to welcome Joel back to Nine,â said Brendan Hockings, Director of 9News Queensland.
"His extensive experience covering significant Queensland stories, from natural disasters to major sporting events including the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, speaks volumes about his dedication and journalistic skill. He is a familiar and trusted face for our viewers.
âJoelâs deep understanding of Queensland and his proven track record make him the ideal choice to partner with Melissa. We know our audience will warmly welcome him to the 6.00pm bulletin.â
Joel Dry said, âIâm thrilled to be returning home to Nine, where I began my life in news many years ago.
âI have so much respect for Melissa who was always very generous and supportive to me during my years at Nine and itâs an honour to again work alongside such an admired journalist.â
âThe team in the Channel 9 Queensland newsroom are tough, fair, relentless and award winning. I canât wait to be a part of bringing Queenslanders the news they deserve.
Joelâs connection to 9News Queensland runs deep. It was there that he met his now wife, Jessica Milward, a senior journalist currently serving as Channel 9âs Europe Correspondent in the London bureau. Joel is presently in the UK supporting Jessica in her role.
The couple announced their engagement live on Today in 2016 and married in 2018 and have one child together. Jessica will also be returning to Brisbane later this year, reuniting the couple in the same newsroom.
Joelâs return signifies an exciting new chapter for 9News Queensland, building on its commitment to delivering trusted and comprehensive news coverage to viewers across the state.
Time for 7 to get Sarah back (if sheâs ready) and try to embed the Sarah/Max duo before then..
When was Sarah due to start back? Around August as well wasnât it?
Did they put a time on it? I seem to recall it just said when she was ready, would play it by ear type of thing.
Youâd certainly think Seven would be checking in with her to see how sheâs going and for an update, they wonât want to give Nine a free kick here - despite blowing up a perfectly good duo last year.
No, heâs going to 9Qld not 9 Adelaide 
I didnât know he was originally from Adelaide doing the news there. I thought he was from QLD. Thatâs where I knew him
Joel is also the brother of former The Block contestant and singer Amity Dry.
For what itâs worth Joel presenting 9QLD local afternoon news back in 2016:
Good choice. And a younger face which is nice.
Joel will just have to be careful with his presenting style. He can be a bit shouty at times.
Jess Millward shared the 9 News Qld post on X announcing the news of Joelâs appointment, saying:
Joel Dry is an extraordinary Journo.
He also happens to be an extraordinary husband. Iâm forever proud of him. Particularly so of how he supports me & my dreams. Disappointed the news was reported prematurely with hurtful inaccuracies
Excited for this new chapter for our family
The bolded bit is particularly interesting 
The CM had an article prior to the official statement
Joel Dry tipped to replace Andrew Lofthouse at Nine News QLD and staff are furious
The decision reportedly blindsided staff and sparked outrage among senior journalists âŚ
Sources described the move by newly appointed Queensland news boss Brendan Hockings as a âserious misstepâ, one that has deepened existing divisions and triggered a fresh wave of internal âangerâ.
âBrendan Hockings has lost the plot,â one insider said. âFor him to do this to a newsroom thatâs already divided is absolutely crazy. People are enraged. Texts started flying at 6am and havenât stopped.â
âI believe Bavas and Taylor will be looking for a new job in the next few days,â one colleague claimed.
âIf Channel 7 arenât on the phone trying to poach our talent now, theyâd be stupid.â
One insider described the situation as a âperfect storm for a poaching coupâ, calling the appointment âabsolute shamblesâ.
âFour or five reporters would go to Seven tomorrow if the call came,â the insider added.
Plus later in the article
There is also growing unease about what Millwardâs eventual return to Brisbane could mean for other senior women in the newsroom, with insiders questioning whether presenters Alison Ariotti and Aislin Kriukelis may find their positions under threat.
âThereâs panic across the newsroom,â one source said.
âIf Ariotti and Kriukelis arenât worried about their positions when Millward comes back, they should be.â
I meant to post this yesterday when I read it, pretty scathing from an âinsiderâ - especially the threat of Jess returning to the roles of daytime and fill-in presenters Alison and Aislin.
It kind of makes sense for them to think that. Maybe part of the deal for Joel is that Nine look after Jess in a permanent role hence the news about 4BC that came through this afternoon. Therefore the ladies shouldnât worry about their 4pm news reading jobs.
Iâm sorry but Iâm not sure why all these articles keep suggesting Bavas was in the running? He barely filled in and is nothing special - Taylor I understand he did a fair amount of weekday fill in shifts.
I had a chuckle at Albo interrupting Charles Croucher mid report on Nineâs 6pm bulletin.
Liz Daniels did an outstanding job on the nine election coverage. Outshone Ally Langdon. Very clear, concise with a warm and engaging manner. Earmark her as a star of the future