After returning from a four-game ban, Mikey Lewis is now sweating on whether he will miss more crucial matches in Hull KR’s run-in.
Lewis was banned for a headbutt during the Robins’ away loss to Warrington and during that period, his side won all four matches without their star halfback.
It was wondered whether Hull KR would stick with Ryan Hampshire due to their winning run but Peters opted to bring Lewis back in, citing the learning curve he has been on over the last month.
“Mikey’s got a lot of learning out of the last four weeks. He knows he needs to stay calm and composed because when he does that, he’s an elite player,” Peters said.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Mikey Lewis was sin-binned for a tackle on Ewan Irwin before being cited for an apparent headbutt on Warrington’s Adam Holroyd. The Match Review Panel handed him a one-match ban for the tackle and three more games for the headbutt.
However, the 25-year-old returned on Tuesday night for Hull KR’s rearranged round two fixture against the same outfit and was once again caught out for ill discipline when he was shown a yellow card for dangerous contact with kicker Ewan Irwin, raising his studs which caught the young halfback on his ankle.
It means he has a nervous wait until Thursday when the Match Review Panel for this contest meet to decide whether he will get a ban.
He currently sits on 7.75 points, meaning that a Grade A charge would be enough for another ban, an untimely one too with just four games remaining of the regular season.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Mikey Lewis is officially back as he goes over on his return from a four-match ban.
Warrington head coach Sam Burgess referred to the challenge as “very dangerous” and said that, if Lewis were playing in Australia’s NRL, he could be in some real trouble.
“I think the challenge at the back end of the game was a bad challenge. It is a bad challenge. He (Irwin) is very lucky he’s come out of that healthy. He’s a tough kid,” Burgess said.
“I’m not trying to make it worse than it is,” he later added. “You just have to watch it. It’s really dangerous.
In the NRL, you’re going to be in a bit of trouble.”
Peters: I know he has done ‘silly things’ but there was no intent
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights of the Super League match between Hull KR and Warrington Wolves.
While Burgess had a very clear view of the nature of the challenge, Lewis’ head coach Peters insisted that he did not think there was any intent behind his player’s actions.
“I need to have a look at it but look I don’t think there was any malice in it,” he said.
“I don’t think he intentionally went for him.
“I know Mikey’s done some silly things this year and that one there he was definitely going to put pressure on.
“I need to have a look at it properly but from what I saw there was no malice to go and hurt the player or have intent to hurt him, he was putting the pressure on.”
