Mikey Lewis has ‘got to’ play in Ashes for England to beat Australia argues ex-Great Britain star

Mikey Lewis must play in the rugby league Ashes if England are to beat Australia according to one former Great Britain international.

Mike Stephenson, known to many as ‘Stevo’ and for his work as a commentator on Sky Sports, played a handful of games for Great Britain and was a Rugby League World Cup winner, but he unfortunately never played in the Ashes.

Great Britain last won the Ashes in 1970 with Stephenson debuting a year later before winning the World Cup in 1972, and then was not part of the 1973 series with Colin Clarke playing at hooker instead.

Despite retiring from his work on comms with Sky Sports, Stephenson still does a podcast with friend and iconic partner Eddie Hemmings and on the pair’s latest podcast episode, they’ve discussed whether Mikey Lewis should play for England.

Lewis picked up the Rob Burrow Award in the Super League Grand Final and is one of three halves named to the England squad by Shaun Wane, and Stephenson has now argued that the Hull KR talisman has ‘got to’ play in the Ashes.

Will Mikey Lewis play in the rugby league Ashes?

“He’s got to. He’s got to,” Stephenson declared bluntly.

“You can’t (not) have a man who has won Man of the Match (in the Grand Final) with so many votes.”

Lewis would have to dislodge either captain George Williams or kicking half Harry Smith to start, although he has been used as a utility in the past, coming on at hooker in the 2023 series against Tonga.

For Stephenson, Lewis has to play, in part because Shaun Wane has selected so many ‘safe’ players although he admits it’s a tough team to break into.

Recounting the Grand Final, Stephenson argued: “He was outstanding and when I look through the team, Wane has selected players that deep down he knows can be safe like Daryl Clark and John Bateman.

“But you look at Mikey Lewis and he’s got to be (involved) but will he start him? It’s difficult as you can’t just say to your captain George Williams ‘you won’t be starting’.

“I think at least you’ve got to have Mikey Lewis on the bench ready to explode because the man is in top form.”

He then made his rallying call, insisting that form players have to be played if England are to beat Australia and reclaim the rugby league Ashes for the first time in 55 years.

“I said it before and I’ve said it all along, if you’re going to beat the Australians then you’ve got to select players who are in the top form in their positions,” Stephenson stated, with Lewis certainly fitting that criteria given his Old Trafford performance.