Well what a position to be in do we keep this player or that player or the other player now that is rare for Wakey.I see Wood more as a 7 than 9 and Ellis more a natural 9 than Aiton and Aiton more a 13 but we have the problem of Washbrook who can also tackle like a demon.Think I will leave this one up to Mr Agar can do without the headache thanks.

Would be amazed if we sign Ellis, although we are desperate for a hooker.

Maybe its just rumour after his loan spell this season and the fact that he did so well. Most fev fans just want him back. Doubt we would have lost the NRC final if Ellis hadn't been recalled.

is he still contracted at wakey??

Yes signed a 3 year deal I believe. Hope we keep him he's a very good player and his distribution from acting half is as good as any hooker in the game

Let's get some perspective, this is a forum rumour after all.

There is clearly something about Ellis Agar doesn't seem to like - I don't know what it is, but that said I personally have seen nothing from him to suggest he's as good as some on this thread think he is - though I personally would keep him. But that's just the opinion of a fan as are all the others on here and despite what we all think we really have not got a clue compared to the coaching staff - end of.

So to answer your point with a question - why have no other SL teams been in for him? Because the chance has rather obviously been there all season. That may tell you all you need to know.

Finally and it's pure speculation - I have a feeling that it's not Ellis Agar or the other SL coaches don't rate, I think it's his wage. He was signed pre Agar and I think we may have over paid, or certainly in Agars eyes. As a coach he may think he can get a lot more VFM than Ellis offers and want that money released - just a thought.

If releasing one of our 3 hookers meant the difference between signing the barnstorming prop we need, or not, I'd trust Agar to make the correct decision for the overall benefit of the squad.

Good call, I hadn't thought of that - really can't see why we'd be letting him go if this wasn't the case tbh. London player of season last year, tore it up at Fev, been great when he came back - like I say, if it isn't a financial decision then it's madness to let him go.

Tbh we wouldn't be letting him go without a very good reason, there's already a dearth of quality players around anyway. IF he left it would be either financial or to improve the squad but personally I can't see him going anywhere.

To follow that thought through though if he has a 3 year contract then other than loaning him out to get some of the money back, why would he move if no one else thinks he is worth the wages he receives? There is no financial incentive for him to leave

If we relaese him, we will have to pay up the rest of his contract. (2 Years)
Would it count towards the salary cap?
So if Agar dosen't see him as an option and lets him go, he could walk away with a chunk of money and then sign for someone else.
I hope not as I think he can do a good job and would prefer him to stay
If he goes then I see Featherstone as his destination.

True enough, it's only a theory. However a lot depends on how his contract is structured etc. If however Fev were to match the terms we have and take over the contract he may wish to leave for guaranteed RL. It wouldn't be the first time a player has left SL for the Championship, most commonly to pursue a non RL related career. As I say just a theory and probably irrelevant considering how wrong this forum usually is on player moves.

At the end of the day Agars job depends on him making correct choices so I can only assume he feels he has better options than Ellis should the rumour be true - that is why he is a top 8 coach and we are not

Not strictly true, all contracts have get out clauses. However if another club were willing to take on the remainder of his contract then we would owe him nothing - other than IMHO a thank you. My point is that maybe there are SL clubs who want to take him on but not the contract and that is the problem. Loaning him to Fev may have paid for Lee Smith in the short term, who knows.

I can't see why we would want to let him go unless someone else was in the picture. I also can't see why he couldn't get another SL birth unless there is a big stumbling block in the way. We all seem to agree he has the ability even if it's not what Agar wants or quite as majestic as some would have us believe. So his terms are the only thing I can think of that would mean him leaving SL for a Championship club, all be it a very ambitious one.

It's all speculation as is 99% of whats on here no matter how some paint it so who knows.

The other side to your theory, (which I think has some validity) is we have him on a 3 year deal and paying him, so why not play him.

And the other other side is that there is nothing wrong with his contract, he isn't going to Fev and he will be playing hooker next year.

Es young and British, I would keep him before Aiton, wood and Ellis have done a pretty good job without Aiton. Would love to keep all 3 but I can't see it, really hope he stays.

Andy Ellis is the best hooker at the club , by a mile.

Ellis at 9, Wood on the bench, Aiton playing as a second rower or loose forward.

End of.

I'm still not a 100% certain on wood. i think he's a seven and would give good cover if retained in case anything happened to Smith, whilst also being the replacement hooker.
Still a lot of improving to do, especially in defence, a bit of a project player still for me. better than i thought he would be and could be a very useful player at this level.

I'd interchange Ellis and Aiton, with Aiton able to play as a running back-rower later in the game if needs be. Plus we'd have squad cover if Washbrook ever got injured.

I'm not convinced on Wood personally. Does the odd good thing but think generally is a weakness in our line-up that will get exploited more next season (which is why i think Agar seemed reluctant to use him for any significant minutes earlier in the season).

Agreed.

Not end off. Those dismissing Aiton have very short memories indeed. At the start of the season he was dragging us through games all by himself and those dismissing him now were the same one who were spitting feathers when he didn't get the 9 spot for the exiles - fickle isn't the word.

Also to dismiss another myth IMHO our form started before Ellis and built up with a win at the millenium and a very unlucky loss at Warrington - at which point Aiton was a hero. For me it's Sykes much to my amazement who was the missing piece of the jigsaw not Ellis.

He was good enough to be a hooker in the NRL and for PNG. It's a matter of opinion whether Ellis is better than Aiton, but those who dismiss Aiton as "never a no9" should frankly take a good look at themselves and show some respect for both the player and the coach.

This is my opinion which is as valid as yours and anyone elses - so not an end of - thanks.

This.

Agree on both points.

This - end of.

Keep em both for me. Not sure we have many other halfs coming through at moment that can step up. If anything it keeps them playing for the position and makes them work harder on any weaknesses in their games.

Spot on Vastman lad.

Aiton played the full 80 minutes in the pack at the Man City ground, with the weather that was some feat.