Hull KR

Hull KR Ashes chances assessed as Mikey Lewis labelled best player in Super League

by
Sam Cook
June 21, 2025

Following another dominant Hull KR win, the club’s chances of Ashes representation have been assessed with a bold Mikey Lewis claim made.

According to Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin, Mikey Lewis is “the best player in our competition right now”, with the former St Helens man arguing that the 2024 Man of Steel must be selected by Shaun Wane later this year.

England will take on Australia in an Ashes series for the first time since 2003 but it’s also the first time that the men’s sides have faced off since the 2017 World Cup Final.

Lewis has been involved in Shaun Wane’s set-up over recent years, playing from the bench against Samoa in 2024 as a hooker/half to brilliant effect.

Just past the midway point in the 2025 Super League season and four months out from game one of the Ashes, Jon Wilkin has picked out some of the Hull KR players in with a shot at featuring and his attention was centred on Lewis.

“Mikey Lewis has to be in there,” he declared after the Robin’s 48-0 win over Castleford Tigers.

“He has to play. He’s the best player in our competition right now. I think Mikey Lewis, with his new improved mentality and his kicking game, has to be in.”

Hull KR trio ‘have to be’ in Ashes squad, claims Wilkin

With Bevan French sidelined and yet to really click into gear in 2025, labelling Lewis as the best player in Super League is probably accurate, however, Wilkin would go on to put forth two other Hull KR men for an Ashes call-up.

He said: “Now this man (Jez Litten) is a bolter because you never would have said two years ago that Jez Litten would be near a starting shirt for Shaun Wane’s team.

“I’m looking at him and think he is going to be starting for England in the Ashes.”

Litten will have competition from Danny Walker, providing he returns to full fitness, as well as the experienced Daryl Clark and young gun Brad O’Neill. Thus far, Litten’s form has been superior to all other nines in the comp.

Another player touted for a shot at the Ashes was the Hull KR captain, though Wilkin saw it as a far tougher position to break into.

“This man Elliot Minchella maybe has the most difficult task,” he explained.

“He’s in a position where we’ve got (Victor) Radley and we’ve got Morgan Knowles, where it’s heavily stacked and packed full of talent but he’s been exceptional.

“Those three have got to be in the squad.”

It was also put to Wilkin that Tom Davies and Joe Burgess could be in with chances, to which he agreed as he hailed the ‘effort and passion’ of Davies who scored a brace in the win over the Tigers.