Corolla 1.4 vvti 2005 petrol 5 speed noise

300kms or 200k miles on the clock, vgc, passed the MOT 1 month ago.

I have a noise coming from the front of my 2005 corolla. I would describe the noise as a roar/rumbling rather than a scratching noise.
Noise increases with speed, and dipping the clutch and freewheeling etc does not effect it.

Noise level is the same in all gears regardless of speed - I mean same noise level at 50mph regardless or 3 4 or 5 gear

Noise doesn't change going around a bend. Wheel bearings were done in both wheels 16 months or 20k miles ago and all was good.

Gearbox had some bearings done 70k miles ago, but dont have the details of which bearings they were. Clutch was replaced at the same time, car had similar noise symptoms at same time. When on the lift and spun the wheel by hand could hear a metallic tick from the gearbox at the time.

Jacked up both wheels last week and brought it up to 3000rpm and 50mph+, noise remained, thought i was getting some vibration in the steering wheel. No tick from gearbox when spinning wheels by hand. No play in wheels.

thought the shaft going to driver side gearbox seemed to have some play in one of the UJs - would this be normal.

Any ideas on what to look at next before trying to find a gearbox speciaiist locally. Not particularly keen on a SH gearbox from a breaker, might be no better after 1 week or indeed 1 hour.

Does the noise increase with rpm rather than speed?
It could be a part of the exhaust. Theres usually 2 or 3 bits to the exhaust. Something even kwikfit could fix.

Other option is a gearbox bearing but if it is that its a big bill from a specialist.

Even though the wheel bearings have been done in the last 20K ago, that noise is indicative of wheel bearing.