George Williams reacts to Mikey Lewis Man of Steel recognition as pair prepare for semi-final

Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com - Hull KR's Ryan Hall is tackled by Warrington's George Williams, above, and Josh Thewlis
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Warrington Wolves' George Williams - match-winner in their epic eliminator win over St Helens - recognised Mikey Lewis' consistency after the Hull Kingston Rovers half-back was nominated for Man of Steel.

Williams and Lewis being on the field together, when Hull KR host Warrington in the play-off semi-finals, is an exciting prospect - and the Warrington man spoke on Sky Sports after the Man of Steel short list had just been announced. On Lewis, Williams said: "He has been really consistent. Over the last few years he has been a good ball runner but I think he has really developed his game. He leads them round the pitch, he kicks really well and, as you know, Mikey Lewis competes.

"I've been fortunate enough to play with Mikey Lewis for England so I know what he brings and, as players, you want to be playing against the best players and best teams in the competition. Hull KR are definitely one of them and so is Mikey Lewis."

READ MORE:Sam Tomkins questions Hull KR's ability to overcome 'huge blow' in semi-final showdown

READ MORE:Mikey Lewis Man of Steel nomination is timely ahead of Hull KR's semi-final

Warrington have named an unchanged 21-man squad for the semi-final - and when head coach Sam Burgess was asked if fans could expect an unchanged 17, he replied: “We’re not sure yet, but it’s hard to change a winning team."

Hull KR coach Willie Peters brought Niall Evalds and Kelepi Tanginoa back into their 21-man squad and, unprompted, brought up Williams in his press conference to preview the semi-final.

After speaking about Lewis' growing maturity, Peters was asked about how important that is on Friday night and replied: "All you need to look at is what George Williams did in that game last weekend (for Warrington against St Helens).

"I'm a massive believer in forwards winning matches and the backs deciding by how many - it's an old saying but that's for the majority of the season. When other packs don't feel like turning up or they are not where they need to be, if you're switched on as a pack you'll usually dominate that middle third of the field. In normal, week to week games, that gets you across the line. But there's no doubt in the big games that it's your spine players, it's your halves - and that's what George did last week.

"Edwin Ipape played hooker but then he went to 13 but he did it for Leigh on Friday night. It's your key players that step up. We are certainly looking at Mikey, we are looking at Tyrone (May), we are looking at Niall and Matt Parcell and guys like that to step up because I know what we are going to get from our forwards and I'm sure Sam knows as well on the other side what he is going to get and they are going to be going at each other and it's going to be the key players in that spine that I think will determine the game like last weekend for both games."

On Lewis and Williams going head to head, Peters said: "Mikey v George is one that everyone wants to see. George has been doing it for a long time and he is still doing it. Mikey is coming through and on his tail and it's going to be interesting to see how it unfolds."

After the Williams' comments, Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin said: "It'll take a really special performance. Obviously Elliot Minchella is missing for Hull KR which is a big loss for them, their captain, he's almost a golden thread that runs through their attack and often organises and sets up a lot of the shape for them so he's a big miss, but in Mikey Lewis and Tyrone May they've just got a mouth-watering combination of people who like to play, who can play instinctively, and can also play through structure.

"Craven Park on a Friday night is some atmosphere, it's an unbelievable atmosphere, they're really difficult to beat over there. But I saw a steel in Warrington, I saw a difference in Warrington from the early rounds of this year. Defence is really important for them and going into big games they need that. I rarely look forward to games as much as I'm looking forward to this one. Last week, we blew me away, Warrington and St Helens. This week I can't wait to get to the game. And, with the amount of games we go to, that surprises me. At 40 years old, I'm excited to go to a rugby game."

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