'He's shouting pick me' - has Lewis played way into England's Ashes team?
After making his England debut in 2023, is Mikey Lewis now positioned to lead against Australia?
If there was any lingering doubt Mikey Lewis would be in contention to start for England in the first Test of the Ashes series against Australia in two weeks' time then his performance for Hull KR on Saturday surely put paid to that.
The influential 24-year-old playmaker opened the scoring for the Robins during their historic Super League Grand Final victory against Wigan Warriors.
Following an exceptional dummy move that led to his try, Hull KR gained momentum to achieve a remarkable domestic treble, entering the record books as just the fifth Grand Final champion in nearly three decades.
National Team Manager Confronts Selection Challenge
He may not have been named this season's Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel, narrowly missing out on the honour he won in 2024 to Leeds' Jake Connor, but he won the Rob Burrow Award for man of the match in the Grand Final.
England manager Shaun Wane, preparing to announce his squad Monday, now faces significant selection challenges for the inaugural Ashes Test at Wembley in two weeks.
With George Williams of Warrington serving as England captain and Harry Smith also impressing during Wigan's second-half resurgence, Lewis faces stiff competition for starting positions.
Connor also presents a strong case for inclusion after a polished campaign that returned the Rhinos to top-four contention for the first time in six years.
Expert Opinions on Lewis' Selection Claims
Having appeared five times for England and crossed twice, Lewis possesses international pedigree
A first Ashes series for almost 20 years is a big occasion and Hull KR head coach Willie Peters - who will be part of the Kangaroos' backroom team for the series - believes Lewis' performance on the Grand Final stage was a pivotal moment in his career.
“My comment about Mikey Lewis arriving specifically addressed that pivotal occasion,” Peters clarified.
“Grand Finals represent the ultimate stage and he completely dominated the opening period.
“He cops a lot but it just shows the type of player we've got, who he is and what he's about.
Salford Red Devils manager Paul Rowley believes Lewis has emphatically stated his selection argument amid intense competition.
“Mikey Lewis is essentially demanding selection, challenging coaches to overlook him at their peril,” Rowley observed.
“He's demonstrating his capability as an elite performer excelling in high-pressure situations.
“Lewis absolutely warrants inclusion, though accommodating all talented players proves challenging with limited positions available.”
Hull KR's Mikey Lewis departed Old Trafford celebrating his Grand Final victory and Rob Burrow man-of-the-match honor
