I'm over the moon – Hull KR's homegrown hero Mikey Lewis celebrates Wembley win
There is almost no-one for whom victory will have meant more than Lewis, who was born and brought up in the city and has brimmed with passion for the Robins since he came through the ranks, making his debut as an 18-year-old in 2019 and claiming the prestigious Super League Man of Steel award last year.
Mikey Lewis lifted Hull KR's first Challenge Cup in 45 years (Richard Sellers/PA)
Yet, despite his likely status as a potential match-winner, Lewis, elevated to kicking duties in the absence of Rovers' Cup-tied full-back Arthur Mourgue, revealed it was most definitely not a case of practice makes perfect.
Looking dazed after the raucous celebrations that greeted the final hooter just moments after his kick sailed through the posts, Lewis said: 'I don't practice, so it was one of them where I trusted the process and, if I got a good strike on it, I knew it was over straight away.
'We said we can win this game in the 79th minute and that's what we did. I'm over the moon, proud. No-one can ever take this off me now – I'm a Challenge Cup winner and it will be with me for the rest of my life.'
Rovers had stood less than two minutes away from more final misery as Warrington entered the final stages with a four-point lead after a first-half try from Josh Thewlis and a superb performance from Marc Sneyd, whose mastery of the slippery conditions made him only the second player to win a third Lance Todd Trophy for man of the match.
Lewis, who had kicked a two-point penalty to give his side an early lead, was not at his best as the Super League leaders struggled to make an impression before the dramatic finale which saw Tyrone May's kick missed by Warrington's Aaron Lindop and Tom Davies pounce to slap down the vital try which was awarded after a tense video review.
Despite fully intending to bask in the glow of a long-awaited trophy, Lewis stressed the focus will soon shift to building on their breakthrough and finishing the season with more silverware, culminating in the Grand Final in October.
Hull KR left it late to edge past Warrington at Wembley (Nigel French/PA)
'I reckon it's going to feel like a bank holiday for the next week or so. We're going to enjoy this moment and then we'll go from there,' added Lewis, whose next engagement was a Sunday trophy parade with the rest of the Rovers players and staff from Craven Park to Hull's city hall.
'We thought it was our time. That was our theme – it's our time now and that's what it was. Hopefully that helps us a lot. We're just going to keep working hard, keep grounded and enjoy it.'
Rovers' new era will begin in earnest when they return to Super League action against Catalans Dragons on Friday and captain Elliot Minchella believes the manner of his side's win, despite being second best for the majority of the final, will stand them in good stead.
'We will definitely take a lot of belief out of that,' said Minchella, one of six Rovers winners, including Lewis, who had featured in the matchday 17 for their Wembley defeat to Leigh in 2023.
'We didn't play anywhere near our best, but we found a way to win and the best sides tend to do that to themselves. We'll probably look back and learn loads of things from this match. We made it tough for ourselves, but our resilience, grit and toughness has never been questioned.'
Warrington head coach Sam Burgess is also hoping for a boost after a performance in which his side made a mockery of their lowly eighth place in the Super League table.
Warrington came up short in a thrilling Challenge Cup final (Richard Sellers/PA)
'I think everyone can see what sort of team we are. Although our form in the league is not where it needs to be, everyone is aware of who we are and what we stand for as a group,' said Burgess.
'There's a lot of pain in there, but we'll take a really positive thing out of it. We have great belief and it'll give us the resolve and determination to attack the second half of the season.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
5 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Sarina Wiegman to keep on dancing after ‘chaotic and ridiculous' Euro 2025 win
Substitute Chloe Kelly, whose extra-time winner at Wembley secured the Lionesses their first major trophy three summers ago, was once again the hero, coolly converting in the shootout with the World Cup holders following a 1-1 extra-time stalemate. Wiegman has now led teams – first the Netherlands, now England – to the trophy at the last three European Championships, though none, admitted the Dutchwoman, was more 'chaotic' and 'ridiculous' as this. "England are crowned queens of European football again!" 😍 Re-live it all! 👇🍿 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 27, 2025 'I'm very happy,' said Wiegman. 'I actually can't believe it myself. It was like, 'how can it happen?' but it happened. I am so incredibly proud of the team and the staff.' Wiegman was spotted busting a move after Kelly once again rose to the highest occasion, and plans to keep letting loose – perhaps to the chagrin of her phone, which twice reminded the England boss during her post-match press conference that she was due a workout. 'I'll do some more dancing,' said Wiegman. 'And I'll have a drink, but I don't think I will drink as much as the players.' Though the Lionesses insisted they had moved on, Sunday's triumph also avenged the 2023 World Cup final, where England were beaten by Spain 1-0 in Sydney in their first global showpiece final. Spain were first-time finalists in this competition but the favourites, and came one step closer to the title when Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey nodded home a 25th-minute opener. But Kelly teed up Russo for a header of her own and 57th-minute equaliser, while two spectacular saves by Hannah Hampton in the shootout opened the door for Kelly to write more history as the Lionesses became the first senior English football team to lift a major trophy on foreign soil. England's Chloe Kelly celebrates with the trophy (Nick Potts/PA) 'I must admit that this is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played,' Wiegman added. 'Every time we could come back, in the quarter-final and the semi-final and the final, we came from behind. Of course we have players that have talents, and the togetherness of this team is really, really incredible, but also the belief that we can come back. 'The players say we can win by any means, and we just never, ever give up.' England's title defence was hanging by a thread following their 2-1 opening defeat to France, but group stage victories over the Netherlands then Wales kept their title defence alive. Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang scored late in their Sweden quarter-final, ultimately setting up a chaotic, error-strewn shootout, won by Bronze with England's seventh try. It took Kelly's extra-time winner from off the bench in their Italy semi-final to book their place in the Spain showdown – after 19-year-old standout Michelle Agyemang had netted another incredible equaliser. England manager Sarina Wiegman collects her medal (Peter Byrne/PA) Even before her heroics in Basel, Kelly, at these Euros, had come in with the joint-most chances created (eight) and most successful crosses (10) of any substitute in a single tournament since Opta started analysing major women's tournaments in 2011. And while Wiegman conceded there had been moments in this campaign – and particularly the Sweden and Italy matches – Sunday's comeback was never in doubt. Asked if there was a moment her belief had wavered, Wiegman replied: 'To be honest, tonight, I didn't.'
South Wales Argus
7 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Football is chaos – Sarina Wiegman hails ‘incredible' European title defence
Chloe Kelly coolly converted the winning penalty as the Lionesses defeated world champions Spain 3-1 in the shootout, having played out a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes in the Basel final. Wiegman's side lost their opener to France and needed extra time in all of their games after the group stage in Switzerland, but emerged victorious in the most nail-biting and dramatic fashion. England players celebrate (Nick Potts/PA) The 55-year-old, who has now won the last three Women's European Championships – previously with Netherlands in 2017 and England in 2022 – said on BBC One: 'I can't believe it. The word 'team' really described who we are – a team. 'We said we can win by any means and that's what we have shown again today. I am so proud of the team and the staff. It is incredible. 'I just can't believe it, but I have a medal around my neck and we have a trophy. It has been the most chaotic tournament on the pitch – all the challenges we had on the pitch against our opponents. 'From the first game it was chaos. Losing your first game and becoming European champions is incredible. Football is chaos.'
Daily Record
7 hours ago
- Daily Record
Mats Knoester confident after stunning Celtic as Aberdeen star looks to smash Hearts hoodoo
The Dons haven't won at Tynecastle since 2017 and kick off their season in Gorgie against old gaffer Derek McInnes and a team in form Mats Knoester believes Aberdeen can smash their Hearts hoodoo – after crushing their Celtic curse to lift the Scottish Cup. The Dons haven't won at Tynecastle since 2017. But Cup hero Knoester is confident that is about to change when Jimmy Thelin 's men head there for their Premiership opener on Monday night. The 26-year-old Dutch defender stated: 'They're a good team, a big team as well. I think it's going to be an exciting game. 'It's not going to be an easy game away, but I think it's going to be interesting to see. 'Always the first game in the season is interesting to see how the teams are after the pre-season. 'We're aware that it's a tough game, away at Hearts, but I also think the past doesn't really matter. 'And if I can go back to Celtic at Hampden – we don't have a really good record against Celtic and then you win the game. 'So, in football I don't think you should go too much back to the past and then look forward.' Hearts have appointed former Dons boss Derek McInnes and Knoester expects them to be one of their main rivals for third spot. He accepted: 'Yeah, if we look a bit further, I think they're also one of the competitors. 'Of course, as Aberdeen, you're one of the bigger teams, and Hearts is that as well. 'So, in that way, I think we should compete with each other. 'But I prefer to just go week by week. I do that with myself and also with the team and their goals.' Knoester knows that Aberdeen's Cup win will mean they will have a target on their backs this season, but he is confident Thelin's men can handle the extra pressure. Knoester admitted: 'Yeah, it can be. (It's) No problem. If they want to see it like that, it's fine.' The Pittodrie side wrapped up their pre-season with defeats to English Premier League Fulham and Ipswich, who were relegated from the tip flight last term. They lost the games 4-1 and 3-1, respectively, but Knoester believes the games were exactly what Aberdeen needed. He claimed: 'I think that was the goal, to have some big opponents, let's say, like Fulham and now Ipswich, especially going into Europe as well. 'We have a tough season coming, so I think if you want to improve something, you also have to play against the better teams, because they will show you what's needed to be on that level. 'I think one big difference was consistency – you see how consistent they are, and if they do make a mistake, they make up for it. They make a foul or they're back fast enough. 'Also, if there's a rebound, there's somebody there who taps it in, while we just miss it. 'Stuff like that, I think we can learn from that. You're the one that sets a standard for yourself.' Boss Thelin also experimented in the two games and former Ferencvaros stopper Knoester added: 'What we wanted to do is play a high line, maybe a bit more extreme than what we normally do. 'Just to try and create pressure on them and take a bit more risk. 'That's one thing that makes it sometimes a little bit more difficult or challenging to cover every space. 'Obviously we need to adjust a little bit on that towards next Monday.' Guaranteed European group stage football will also put an additional strain on the Aberdeen players. Former boss Barry Robson lost his job when Dons struggled with European games last time but Knoester believes that won't be the case now. He said: 'We trained under really heavy circumstances, in pre-season a lot of high-intensity metres. 'We did everything we could to be ready for that.'
