Mikey Lewis out to make a 'statement' for Hull KR and England

Scrum-half, 23, has enjoyed a brilliant season but his work's only just begun as he enters a pivotal time for club and country

Mikey Lewis says Hull KR can right their semi-final wrongs - even without influential captain Elliot Minchella.

The Robins can sit back and relax this weekend when the Betfred Super League play-offs eliminators get underway. Having finished second, they head straight to a home semi-final next Friday night for a place at Old Trafford. But they have fallen at the last-four stage twice in the last three seasons. Willie Peters’ side were hammered 42-12 at eventual champions Wigan last year and KR also lost in Perpignan under Tony Smith in 2021.

Scrum-half Lewis, who’s helped the Robins to their highest-ever Super League finish, said: “We have got to the semi-finals twice and you want to go that extra step. That was one of our things: learning from last year.

“It's a massive learning curve. We've got a youngish squad. You just want to get out there and put the wrongs right and get to the Grand Final. We are not fussed about who we play. We'll prepare for who is going to be in that semi-final with us. We are at home. It's a very tough place to come. We are confident that whoever comes to Craven Park will be expecting the best of us.”

Rovers, of course, must do so without England loose forward Minchella who lost his appeal this week to have a two-game ban halved. He will return if the East Yorkshire club do make it to a maiden Grand Final appearance. “We have got Dean Hadley who can fill in and that's so good,” said Lewis, before paying tribute to his sidelined skipper.

“Mini does give us a lot. He leads those middle boys around: if you ask him to do something, he'll do it. Having that understanding of each other is huge. He knows how to get something else out of you. In his first year of being captain, he's surprised me. He's done a fantastic job. How he leads the boys on and off the field, it's a privilege to play alongside him.”

On finishing in the top-two, Lewis - who has scored 19 tries and come up with 24 assists in Super League - admitted: “It was massive and that was a team goal. We've got a few sore bodies so the time off will go a long way to give them a rest and refresh and be ready to go next week.”

Lewis, 23, has been one of the undoubted stars of this Super League season so it was no surprise to see him make the Dream Team for the first time. He could even go one step further and claim the Steve Prescott Man of Steel following his brilliant, eye-catching displays at the hub of Peters’ side. He said: “It was a bit surreal at first; you don't really think as a player that you're going to make the Dream Team. To have my family there, I was proud.

“It's just about being consistent with performances. That was my goal this year. For my self-growth and where I want to go in the game, I want to be more consistent with my performances and that's what I've done.”

Named again in Shaun Wane’s squad for the two-Test series against Samoa, does he feel he’s done enough to oust Wigan’s Harry Smith from the England No7 jersey? Lewis, who impressed against Tonga last year when captain George Williams was banned, said: “There's no right answer, is there?

“I feel like I've put the performances together to put a statement out there. It's Shaun Wane's choice what he wants to do and if I get picked I'll make sure I do everything I can to not lose it. We'll see what happens and it is what it is. I'll make sure the next couple of weeks I am nailing things.”