Shaun Wane tells Mikey Lewis he can "do better" after dream England debut

22 October 2023 , 18:39

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England's Mikey Lewis (second left) celebrates his try against Tonga (Image: PA)

Pocket rocket Mikey Lewis made a dream England debut to help edge out Tonga but boss Shaun Wane insisted: “He can do a lot better.”

The livewire Hull KR half-back stands at just five foot six inches and must have felt like he was walking in the land of giants against Tonga’s huge forwards. But he had them chasing shadows with his dazzling footwork, making one sizzling break and scoring a quality solo try to rip in. Lewis, 22, only got his chance as captain George Williams started a two-game ban.

Asked how he rated Lewis’ debut, Wane - with the man-of-the-match sat next to him - said: “Good. I know he can do a lot better and I hope he doesn't mind me saying that. Well, I don't care if he doesn't mind! He's a credit to Hull KR as a club. I know he’s always been a running threat and he’s fitted in really well since we knew about George. I’m really pleased for him.”

The first Test kicked off almost 20 minutes late after an issue with the turnstile machines at St Helens’ Totally Wicked Stadium. But Lewis didn’t hang around making his mark with that scintillating break from halfway before easily rounding full-back Will Hopoate in the eighth minute. Starford Toa denied him but at the next play Victor Radley’s floated pass got Wigan centre Toby King over.

MIkey Lewis takes selfies with England fans after Tonga first Test win (PA)

Harry Smith slotted the first of his three goals but Toa replied with a try on 15 minutes. Ex-Wales and Australia second-row Tyson Frizell made history by becoming the first player to play for three different nations when he lined up for Tonga. And he got a debut score latching on Tui Lolohea’s grubber in the 23rd minute, Isaiya Katoa converting.

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But Lewis produced a classic ‘show and go’, producing lovely footwork to leave Tonga’s defence rooted before fending off St George-Illawarra powerhouse Moses Suli for a superb try. Katoa’s penalty sent the sides in at 12-12 but England built up a 22-12 lead with Tom Johnstone’s brace.

England's Tom Johnstone scores his second try against Tonga (PA)

Stand-in captain Jack Welsby’s world-class long pass caught Tonga out to allow the Catalans winger to stroll in for his first in the 55th minute. And then soon after the wideman - on his first appearance since scoring a hat-trick on debut against France in 2018 - raced in from halfway for his second after a Tonga pass hit the deck. Toluta Koula scored in the 78th minute to give Tonga hope but it was too late.

Tonga boss Kristian Woolf said: “England played really well. But the ruck was ridiculous. It has to be fair. England were playing at 3.25 seconds at ruck and we were going at over four seconds with guys flopping on.”

David Craven