Hull KR half Tyrone May has spoken about playing partner Mikey Lewis, admitting he ‘wanted to strangle him’ when playing for Catalans.
Lewis has had a brilliant season with the Hull KR star leading the assists charts (tied on 24 with Lachlan Lam) and sitting third for tries scored with 19 and that ascension to the elite of Super League has seen fans separated into two camps, those who love him and those who don’t. Love him or hate him, you just cannot ignore him.
That has been referenced by teammate Tyrone May who spoke to the media ahead of Friday’s match between Hull KR and Warrington Wolves.
“He’s been outstanding has little Mikey,” May noted when asked about his playing partner.
“I think I’ve said it a few times, last year I wanted to strangle him when we played him and I think a lot of clubs do feel that way but when you play alongside him he’s pretty electric. He’s just someone you want to put your arm around and look after.”
The Man of Steel nominees were revealed on Wednesday with Lewis among them having been named to the Super League Dream Team and there’s no doubt about who May would be tipping for the award.
“It’s been a tremendous season so hopefully, he can get that award,” he added.
Hull KR man makes Mikey Lewis and Sam Tomkins comparison
Credit: Rémi Vignaud/Catalans Dragons/SWpix.com
Oftentimes, it’s Lewis’ ability to get under the skin of opponents that makes him so good and as Willie Peters has referenced multiple times this season, the 23-year-old now has the maturity to be able to temper those emotions.
Tyrone May expanded as he claimed Lewis ‘flirts with the line’, explaining: “He does get under the skin of the opposition and I think that’s when he’s at his best when he’s just flirting with that line and he got under my skin last year and I wasn’t happy about it.”
Now that they’re playing together, as opposed to against one another, the former Catalans man is seemingly far happier.
“We formed a good partnership this year and since I walked through the doors there’s been nothing but welcoming. I think everyone here has and that’s why this place is a pleasure to be around.”
When asked about that pantomime villain-esque character that Lewis has become, May referenced former two-time Man of Steel winner Sam Tomkins, with whom he played alongside in Perpignan.
“A lot of players you see on the pitch where other opposition teams or crowds don’t really like. I played with Sam Tomkins who every week would go somewhere and they’ll have this same chant for him. I even started singing along sometimes but if you know Sam off the field he’s a champion bloke, one of the best of them.
“I think that happens in rugby league a lot. When you cross that white line you do want to turn into something different and you are different because you change your mentality when you’re out there on the pitch.”
May and the Hull KR fans will be hoping Lewis can channel that into an elite performance on Friday night then they host Warrington Wolves at Craven Park.
