Brian McDermott has hailed Mikey Lewis’ energy, toughness and attitude after naming the Hull KR maverick in his England squad ahead of Leeds’ Jake Connor for the Rugby League World Cup.
Lewis, 25, retains his place in the international squad after being named in McDermott’s 23-man party for the tournament Down Under.
The Hull KR half-back has won eight caps since making his England debut in 2023, featuring both in the halves and off the interchange bench to offer McDermott valuable versatility.
The former Leeds Rhinos boss – a four-time Super League Grand Final winner before moving to Australia, where he is now an assistant coach at Gold Coast Titans – believes Lewis’ all-action style makes him a perfect fit for his international game plan.
McDermott also admitted Lewis’ aggression can occasionally spill over after a season of disciplinary setbacks, but praised the way he embraces the physical demands of the game.
“He doesn’t die wondering. He brings a lot of energy, a lot of attitude,” McDermott said.
“At times, that spills over, and that would be a concern for any coach.
“But the game’s played over the ad (advantage) line, and in international football, everything is over the ad line.
“The guy runs, and when he’s in doubt, he runs.”
Lewis has not played since Hull KR’s play-off exit against eventual beaten finalists Warrington Wolves in the eliminators.
Despite several disciplinary issues during 2026, he still finished the season with 17 tries and 14 assists in 20 Super League appearances.
He also played a starring role in Hull KR’s historic World Club Challenge victory over Brisbane Broncos in February, helping the Robins complete a record-breaking clean sweep of trophies.
And McDermott believes Lewis’ willingness to take responsibility when fatigue sets in could prove crucial on the international stage.
“If you look at the Grand Final in Australia, there weren’t too many tries where people shifted the ball from left side to right. Everything is nice and tight, and over the ad line,” said McDermott, 56.
“It doesn’t have too many support runners, because international football and Grand Finals have got a level of fatigue. We don’t have enough people with enough energy to put on those big shapes and shifts across the field.
“You have to have some players that, when everybody else is tired, they’ll carry the ball themselves, and Mikey Lewis does that tremendously.
“Whether he gets in at dummy-half, or catches at first receiver. And he’s tough.
“I’m really pleased he’s with us.”