Mikey Lewis to captain Hull KR as Willie Peters hails star’s ‘mature decision’

Hull KR head coach Willie Peters has confirmed that Mikey Lewis will captain the Robins on Friday night when they field a heavily rotated squad.

Lewis, who is returning from a two-game ban, will be among the most senior players in terms of age and experience, and as such, he will skipper the side after putting his hand up to play.

With Hull KR certain to have to travel for their first play-off game, Willie Peters took the opportunity to change out 14 of his 21-man squad but Lewis, Sauaso Sue and Sam Luckley remain of the senior players, and it’s the former Man of Steel who will skipper the side.

Speaking to the media on Thursday about the decision to play Lewis, Peters confirmed it was the player who made the decision, one that the coach described as ‘really mature’.

Peters explained: “He’s made the decision to play, a really mature decision. Mikey’s done his time. I’ve always said that Mikey would come back and be in our best team. The week that he didn’t play, that was on me and then he served his time off the back of that.

“We had a good chat around this week and he’s going to captain the side, he’s going to go out and lead through his actions. As I say, it’s a mature decision.”

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Hull KR boss reveals Mikey Lewis chats ahead of return from ban

Peters was forthright in the fact that his team needed the rotation to freshen up but for Lewis, who has not played since that midweek clash against Warrington, he asserted that the playmaker needs minutes.

He said: “Obviously Mikey needs to play, he needs to get some game time but this is a decision that he wanted to go out and play this week and make sure that he earns everyone’s trust back in terms of what we know he can do.

“I’m big on evidence and the evidence has been there that Mikey Lewis has done so much for this club since he’s come into the first team and it’s just about him finishing the year the best he can and making sure that he supports these young guys because that’s what he wants to do tomorrow and as I said, it’s a mature decision for him.”

As for what chats have been held about ensuring Lewis does not go over the line and land another ban, Peters explained: “He doesn’t have to overdo things. Calm, be calm, be composed. When the opportunity is there, you take it. Nothing changes.

“He needs to own last plays and manage the team well there and most importantly make his tackles and when he does that, the other stuff becomes easy for him.”

Peters also put forth a defence of the last ban that Lewis copped, characterising it as different from previous bans that have perhaps been a result of red mist or a lack of maturity.

The Hull KR boss said: “As I said, Mikey didn’t intentionally [hurt Ewan Irwin]. I know Irwin got injured and Mikey’s done his time and that’s why we didn’t fight it but it was a little bit different to some of the other things that he’s done throughout the year and last year. It was different but he needs to obviously make sure that he’s not putting himself in positions like that and crossing that line.

“He’s very important to what we do and I’m looking forward to seeing him respond tomorrow more in a controlled manner. As I said, having a composure about him and managing this younger team and leading this team with his action.”