Mikey Lewis Scores Two Tries as England Chases Semis — SkimNews
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- Mikey Lewis was picked by England coach Brian McDermott as one of three half-back options alongside Harry Smith and captain George Williams, ahead of 2025 Man of Steel Jake Connor — who was then left out of the squad for England's opening defeat to Tonga.
- England's 30-12 loss to Tonga was followed by an 82-0 win over France in Perth, in which Lewis came on for the final 20 minutes and scored two tries to boost the points difference.
- Papua New Guinea await England on Friday, with Tonga needing to defeat Samoa on Sunday and England needing to make up a 68-point deficit on the Samoans to reach the semi-finals.
- Hull KR's Lewis scored 17 tries and provided 14 assists in 20 Super League matches in 2026, but also collected four yellow cards — the most of any player in the division.
- Warrington Wolves' defeat in July brought a four-game ban for Lewis after a late tackle and a headbutt on a Warrington player; he was sin-binned for the tackle, while the headbutt was initially missed by match officials.
- St Helens hosted Lewis's England debut in October 2023 against Tonga, when he was man of the match in a 22-18 win, scoring a try and providing an assist.
- Mikey Lewis says he is contrite about his disciplinary problems, is seeking external help over his on-field temperament, and insists "20 minutes is 20 minutes for England" — even off the bench.
Why it matters: McDermott's selection of Lewis is a points-difference calculation, not just a reward for form: England's 82-0 win over France came courtesy of two bench tries, and the semi-finals require beating Papua New Guinea on Friday plus making up a 68-point deficit on Samoa. Lewis's four yellow cards, the most in the division, are the risk McDermott is choosing to carry.
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