Paul Cooke believes Willie Peters made a “genius” call by handing Mikey Lewis the Hull KR captaincy for their final game of the regular season – and has backed the maverick half-back to be better for it when it matters most against Warrington Wolves.
The reigning champions travel to the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday for a knockout play-off clash on the road to Old Trafford, with victory setting up a semi-final showdown against modern rivals Wigan Warriors.
Both Peters and Sam Burgess opted to rest the majority of their Super League stars in Round 27, with Warrington beating Toulouse Olympique 26-14 while a youthful Hull KR side put up a spirited fight in a 36-12 defeat at St Helens.
Returning from a two-match ban, England international Lewis was handed the captaincy for a side which included six first-team debutants.
Lewis was the most established player in the Hull KR squad, and Cooke believes Peters made a “genius” call by handing him the captain’s armband.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s play-off tie, Cooke said on All Out Rugby League’s Back Ten Predictions Show: “There’s some huge sideshows, Ewan Irwin versus Mikey Lewis from the challenge which got Mikey banned.
“He (Mikey) came back last week and captained Hull KR, which I thought was a genius move by the way.
“When you don’t behave yourself, whether on or off the field, when you captain the club, there’s a certain level where you’re on the field where you have to calm yourself.
“I watched Mikey really closely, and I think he’ll be better for the run, but I saw a bit more of a calmness from him.”
Cooke went on to make his prediction for the play-off eliminator tie, despite Warrington having won both of their Super League meetings with Rovers this season.
Hull KR, however, came out on top when the sides met in the Challenge Cup semi-finals back in May.
“I think Warrington have gone very much under the radar and are happy to be left alone. I think the return of George Williams is huge,” Cooke added, with the Back Ten Predictions Show set to go live later tonight.
“Everything says Warrington should win, they’ve beaten them twice. The only thing that makes me think Hull KR can get it done, is experience in a big game.”
Watch Monday’s All Out Rugby League Back Ten show now on YouTube.