'He's shouting pick me' - has Lewis played way into England's Ashes team?
Mikey Lewis made his England debut in 2023 but could he be at the core of his national side 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.
England captain George Williams from Warrington remains a certainty, while Harry Smith's scoring performance during Wigan's comeback attempt places him alongside Lewis in the selection conversation.
Additionally, Connor has compelling claims for selection following a sophisticated season where he guided the Rhinos to their initial top-four placement since 2017.
Professional Assessment of Lewis' National Team Prospects
Having appeared five times for England and crossed twice, Lewis possesses international pedigree
With the historic Ashes revival after twenty years approaching, Hull KR's Willie Peters (set to assist the Kangaroos) considers Lewis' championship performance a transformative career milestone.
“When I declared Mikey Lewis has arrived, I referred to that significant moment,” Peters explained.
“No platform exceeds a Grand Final and he commanded that initial half.
“He cops a lot but it just shows the type of player we've got, who he is and what he's about.
According to Salford Red Devils' Paul Rowley, Lewis has powerfully presented his credentials despite numerous contenders.
“Mikey Lewis is shouting from the rooftops 'pick me', or 'don't pick me if you dare',” Rowley commented.
“His actions confirm he belongs among top-tier athletes who deliver when it matters most.
“Mikey Lewis has got to be in there somewhere, but it's hard to squeeze all these good players in - there are only a few positions for quite a few players.”
Hull KR playmaker Mikey Lewis left Old Trafford after winning both the Super League Grand Final and the Rob Burrow Award for man of the match