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.