So he’s not off to Oz after all…

[Damien]

I think there are a couple of things that are at play when it comes to young halves moving to Australia.

Halves are generally the best paid players at SL clubs and the best ones are marquee. Im not sure moving to the NRL is as attractive for them as it is for players in other positions. Sure the top NRL wages are huge but no English player is moving to the NRL and getting Nathan Cleary figures. For an established forward getting perhaps 70k and pretty much at their ceiling (or a young player maybe only on 40k-50k) its a different story.

In addition to that the obvious thing is not everyone wants to move to the other side of the world and leave their friends and family. Its also a huge risk for many if they are doing well at their club and financially they may not be a great deal better off all things considered.

[Damien]

32 minutes ago, Wellsy4HullFC said:

How can you put Hardaker in that list? He was literally the reigning Man of Steel when he went to NRL.

I had a feeling someone would question that one and admit it may be more my personal opinion. Hes also why I said most. I've always considered him a fairly limited player and certainly never thought he'd do anything in the NRL. I was pretty gutted when Wigan signed him and he did nothing during his time with us.

He went to the NRL under a cloud, and in poor form from a club at the bottom of the league, on a very short term loan the season following his MoS. Leeds then got rid when Penrith werent interested in keeping him and he went to Cas. I thought it was very weird NRL signing at the time.

As I said it may be more personal preference but I always considered him a flash in the pan in a decent Leeds side. Kind of like Mathers from a few years previous. His career after that was what I described as an okay club player. 

Edited September 28 by Damien

[bobbruce]

19 hours ago, Wakefield Ram said:

We will see how he does against the Aussies. Very good player in a dominant side, but his temperament just isn't good enough when his team are struggling. 

That's why no NRL club had tried to sign him. George Williams is an all-round consistent solid professional. Lewis isn't. 

You seriously think no NRL club has tried to sign Lewis. 

[Wellsy4HullFC]

Just now, Damien said:

I had a feeling someone would question that one and admit it may be more my personal opinion. I've always considered him a fairly limited player and certainly never thought he'd do anything in the NRL. I was pretty gutted when Wigan signed him and he did nothing there.

He went to the NRL under a cloud, and in poor form from a club at the bottom of the league, on a very short term loan the season following his MoS. Leeds then got rid and he went to Cas. I thought it was very weird NRL signing at the time.

As I said it may be more personal preference but I always considered him a flash in the pan in a decent Leeds side. Kind of like Mathers from a few years previous. His career after that was what I described as an okay club player. 

Hardaker has always been a fantastic international-class player, just ruled by demons at times.

His NRL signing was only stage given his mental state at the time. He came back and starred for Castleford in their LLS dominating year. The difference with him out of the team was there for everyone to see! 

I get the point about his NRL signing not being an in-form player in his prime, (he was in his prime, just not in form due to other issues). But to put him among those other players is hardly fair!

[Damien]

8 minutes ago, Wellsy4HullFC said:

Hardaker has always been a fantastic international-class player, just ruled by demons at times.

His NRL signing was only stage given his mental state at the time. He came back and starred for Castleford in their LLS dominating year. The difference with him out of the team was there for everyone to see! 

I get the point about his NRL signing not being an in-form player in his prime, (he was in his prime, just not in form due to other issues). But to put him among those other players is hardly fair!

I absolutely consider him to have been a weird signing at that time and as I said he is why I said most of them, note not all, when it came to lighting up SL.

I certainly thought others may disagree on him and I'm happy to admit my own personal opinion of him as a player could be different to others.

Edited September 28 by Damien

[Dunbar]

14 hours ago, Anita Bath said:

In the last 20 years the blokes from super league who have gone down under and succeeded in NRL have been forwards by and large.

Which backs have made their mark in the NRL ( and I dont count Herbie because he didnt play in SL)?

Dominic Young played in Super League before his NRL move which has yielded 73 tries in 92 games. I think that counts.

[Wakefield Ram]

3 hours ago, bobbruce said:

You seriously think no NRL club has tried to sign Lewis. 

Given NRL clubs have a salary cap of £5.7m no I don't think any NRL clubs tried very hard to sign him. 

I'm sure some NRL clubs might have enquired about his availability and what he wanted to be paid, but tried hard to sign him, no. 

[FearTheVee]

2 hours ago, Wakefield Ram said:

Given NRL clubs have a salary cap of £5.7m no I don't think any NRL clubs tried very hard to sign him. 

I'm sure some NRL clubs might have enquired about his availability and what he wanted to be paid, but tried hard to sign him, no. 

More fool them.

I’ve watched enough RL to know Lewis is a class act and him not having an Australian accent doesn’t make him any less of a class act.

It’s the same with lots of players - nobody can tell me Alex Walmsley wouldn’t have been a top prop in Oz and that teams didn’t try to sign him. Same for Roby and many others. Some players just don’t go to Australia.

Edited September 28 by FearTheVee

[Worzel]

19 hours ago, Wellsy4HullFC said:

Hardaker has always been a fantastic international-class player, just ruled by demons at times.

His NRL signing was only stage given his mental state at the time. He came back and starred for Castleford in their LLS dominating year. The difference with him out of the team was there for everyone to see! 

I get the point about his NRL signing not being an in-form player in his prime, (he was in his prime, just not in form due to other issues). But to put him among those other players is hardly fair!

Hardaker is a brilliant player. Clearly he had maturity issues (and related substance issues...) when he was younger, but some lads take a lot longer to grow up than others and hopefully he has now. I'd have him at Rovers. 

[Worzel]

14 hours ago, FearTheVee said:

More fool them.

I’ve watched enough RL to know Lewis is a class act and him not having an Australian accent doesn’t make him any less of a class act.

It’s the same with lots of players - nobody can tell me Alex Walmsley wouldn’t have been a top prop in Oz and that teams didn’t try to sign him. Same for Roby and many others. Some players just don’t go to Australia.

Spot on. Walmsley would have been a good standard NRL player, Roby would have been a comp-leading hooker (just look at Josh Hodgson, who was no Roby, he was commonly seen as #2 to Cam Smith in the league)

Lewis has a certain playing style, he's a fast, creative running #6 who has worked hard in the last few years to get structure and a good kicking game to mitigate his alleged weaknesses. I doubt any NRL team would want him as a controlling half back, but he'd have a real impact as the 2nd half in a team that wanted to play with speed. He also clearly responds to coaching, so they'd probably improve him. 

Like others have said, you don't need to be Nathan Cleary to be an NRL player. People like Luke Brooks have got over 250 appearances to their name, and he's not as good as Lewis.   

[Wakefield Ram]

On 29/09/2025 at 10:43, Worzel said:

Spot on. Walmsley would have been a good standard NRL player, Roby would have been a comp-leading hooker (just look at Josh Hodgson, who was no Roby, he was commonly seen as #2 to Cam Smith in the league)

Lewis has a certain playing style, he's a fast, creative running #6 who has worked hard in the last few years to get structure and a good kicking game to mitigate his alleged weaknesses. I doubt any NRL team would want him as a controlling half back, but he'd have a real impact as the 2nd half in a team that wanted to play with speed. He also clearly responds to coaching, so they'd probably improve him. 

Like others have said, you don't need to be Nathan Cleary to be an NRL player. People like Luke Brooks have got over 250 appearances to their name, and he's not as good as Lewis.   

So after his performance today, which NRL clubs would want to sign him then?

[Exiled Wiganer]

He certainly cashed in at the top of the market.

[The Future is League]

1 hour ago, Wakefield Ram said:

So after his performance today, which NRL clubs would want to sign him then?

Don't judge him on one game. See how he responds next week IF selected

[Worzel]

1 hour ago, Wakefield Ram said:

So after his performance today, which NRL clubs would want to sign him then?

 

The inevitable scapegoating of Lewis is as numbingly dull as it is predictable

[MZH]

I don't tend to make a habit of defending Mikey Lewis, but I will today. The pack were, almost to a man,(I won't include KPP) terrible. No half back is ever going to shine with the limited opportunity Lewis had. Yeah he was pretty ineffective, but he did his best with the scraps he was given. My only real criticism would be; where was the brash, in your face Mikey Lewis? I wanted to see him getting stuck in and putting some noses out of joint the way he does every week in SL. Not sure if it was the occasion or what but he was a bit of a shrinking violet.

[Worzel]

24 minutes ago, MZH said:

I don't tend to make a habit of defending Mikey Lewis, but I will today. The pack were, almost to a man,(I won't include KPP) terrible. No half back is ever going to shine with the limited opportunity Lewis had. Yeah he was pretty ineffective, but he did his best with the scraps he was given. My only real criticism would be; where was the brash, in your face Mikey Lewis? I wanted to see him getting stuck in and putting some noses out of joint the way he does every week in SL. Not sure if it was the occasion or what but he was a bit of a shrinking violet.

The idea that Lewis would be expected to control the game at #7 behind that woeful go-forward is comical. People love to beat the lad up. I’ve watched it for five years. When push comes to shove, at every level he’s proved them all to be narrow minded, spiteful, slightly weird nincompoops.

Besides, he’s a #6. He’s not a scrum half. England should be playing Smith and Lewis. 

[MZH]

8 minutes ago, Worzel said:

The idea that Lewis would be expected to control the game at #7 behind that woeful go-forward is comical. People love to beat the lad up. I’ve watched it for five years. When push comes to shove, at every level he’s proved them all to be narrow minded, spiteful, slightly weird nincompoops.

Besides, he’s a #6. He’s not a scrum half. England should be playing Smith and Lewis. 

I agree with you. I dislike the kid in a pantomime villain sort of way (for obvious reasons), but there's no denying his talent, and anyone singling him out today either has it in for him or simply doesn't understand some very basic concepts of Rugby League.

On your last point. Like it or not, of the players Wane has picked I think Smith has to be the one that plays regardless. I know he's had an underwhelming season, but of the three he's the cool head, the one who can control a game and has the best kicking game. So then it's between Lewis and Williams to play the 6 role. I like Williams, always gives his all and still a fine player, but Lewis is just a bit better these days. 

[Worzel]

1 minute ago, MZH said:

I agree with you. I dislike the kid in a pantomime villain sort of way (for obvious reasons), but there's no denying his talent, and anyone singling him out today either has it in for him or simply doesn't understand some very basic concepts of Rugby League.

On your last point. Like it or not, of the players Wane has picked I think Smith has to be the one that plays regardless. I know he's had an underwhelming season, but of the three he's the cool head, the one who can control a game and has the best kicking game. So then it's between Lewis and Williams to play the 6 role. I like Williams, always gives his all and still a fine player, but Lewis is just a bit better these days. 

I said before the match that Smith was my #7. I don’t even think he’s had that bad a season. He has a calm, steady head on his shoulders and a good kicking game. Then you pick your #6. And anyone who would have Williams as their #6 after this season, and indeed this last match, needs their head examined.

[MZH]

1 minute ago, Worzel said:

I said before the match that Smith was my #7. I don’t even think he’s had that bad a season. He has a calm, steady head on his shoulders and a good kicking game. Then you pick your #6. And anyone who would have Williams as their #6 after this season, and indeed this last match, needs their head examined.

Well I've got a bad feeling that Mr. Wane might be getting an appointment with the neurologist next week because I can absolutely see him picking Williams and Smith for the second test.

[Worzel]

10 minutes ago, MZH said:

Well I've got a bad feeling that Mr. Wane might be getting an appointment with the neurologist next week because I can absolutely see him picking Williams and Smith for the second test.

Certainly. And to be honest Smith and Williams is a better combination. It’s just not our best one. 

[Wakefield Ram]

24 minutes ago, Worzel said:

The idea that Lewis would be expected to control the game at #7 behind that woeful go-forward is comical. People love to beat the lad up. I’ve watched it for five years. When push comes to shove, at every level he’s proved them all to be narrow minded, spiteful, slightly weird nincompoops.

Besides, he’s a #6. He’s not a scrum half. England should be playing Smith and Lewis. 

At every level except international. A great player at club level when he's on top, but pretty anonymous today and bounced off by a few Aussie forwards when defending. They'd done their homework on his defensive weakness. 

I'm not blaming him for the defeat, the whole team was well-beaten but what exactly did he do to try and change the momentum of the game? His petty niggling and getting in the opposition's faces wasn't going to work.

[Worzel]

20 minutes ago, Wakefield Ram said:

At every level except international. A great player at club level when he's on top, but pretty anonymous today and bounced off by a few Aussie forwards when defending. They'd done their homework on his defensive weakness. 

I'm not blaming him for the defeat, the whole team was well-beaten but what exactly did he do to try and change the momentum of the game? His petty niggling and getting in the opposition's faces wasn't going to work.

Like I said, such a predictable point of view, you’re just reaching mate. Lewis was one of England’s more effective performers today, behind a beaten pack and with an ineffective half-back partner.

When he first came through, people said he wasn’t good enough. When he proved he was good enough, people said he had no kicking game. When he developed a kicking game, people said he wasn’t consistent. When he was consistent, people said he couldn’t play in big games. When he won finals with last minute clutch kicks and MoM performances, people like you say “except international” games. Every single time you’ve all been proven to be bitter hacks. Every single time. 

Think it might be time to get a new act, we’ve heard this one before. 

[Wakefield Ram]

24 minutes ago, Worzel said:

Like I said, such a predictable point of view, you’re just reaching mate. Lewis was one of England’s more effective performers today, behind a beaten pack and with an ineffective half-back partner.

When he first came through, people said he wasn’t good enough. When he proved he was good enough, people said he had no kicking game. When he developed a kicking game, people said he wasn’t consistent. When he was consistent, people said he couldn’t play in big games. When he won finals with last minute clutch kicks and MoM performances, people like you say “except international” games. Every single time you’ve all been proven to be bitter hacks. Every single time. 

Think it might be time to get a new act, we’ve heard this one before. 

A great player at club level in a good side is not a criticism. If you think he was one of England's more effective performers today then that's your opinion, but not one shared by many. 

I haven't followed his career, I have nothing against him, just an opinion that is different to yours. 

He was the poorest of the 4 halves on the pitch today and nowhere near the same league as Cleary or Munster. But I am not blaming him for the defeat. 

I'd be delighted if he proved me wrong and produced a game-changing performance in either of the next two tests. But I don't think he will. Nor do I think any NRL side will ever sign him. 

[Exiled Wiganer]

They just ran round him over and over again. 

[Jonty58]

7 hours ago, Worzel said:

Like I said, such a predictable point of view, you’re just reaching mate. Lewis was one of England’s more effective performers today, behind a beaten pack and with an ineffective half-back partner.

When he first came through, people said he wasn’t good enough. When he proved he was good enough, people said he had no kicking game. When he developed a kicking game, people said he wasn’t consistent. When he was consistent, people said he couldn’t play in big games. When he won finals with last minute clutch kicks and MoM performances, people like you say “except international” games. Every single time you’ve all been proven to be bitter hacks. Every single time. 

Think it might be time to get a new act, we’ve heard this one before. 

Maybe it’s Lewis smug mug and style that draw the detractors?