MIKEY LEWIS has been promoted to Hull KR’s number seven shirt to replace the departed Jordan Abdull.
The halfback is one of the Robins’ most important players, after steering them to a Challenge Cup final and Super League play-off semi-final last term.
Afterwards, Lewis was rewarded with an England debut, wearing the number-six shirt for their first two Tests against Tonga in the absence of captain George Williams to suspension.
While Hull KR’s number-six jersey has been retired in honour of club great Roger Millward MBE since his death in 2016, Abdull’s departure to Catalans on loan made the other halfback shirt available.
And 22-year-old Lewis, who has scored 32 tries in 71 appearances for the club, has now been allocated seven, with his likely halfback partner Tyrone May to wear 27 following his arrival from Catalans.
Only three of Hull KR’s nine new signings have been given starting squad numbers – Peta Hiku has been given the number one jersey following his move from North Queensland, ex-Castleford man Niall Evalds takes number two and Oliver Gildart, added from Leigh, takes number four.
Fellow new boys Jai Whitbread, Kelepi Tanginoa, AJ Wallace, Neil Tchamambe and Joe Burgess take the 16, 20, 26, 34 and 35 shirts respectively.
Jez Litten, who like Lewis made his England debut in 2023, has also received a promotion, taking the number nine in a straight swap with Matt Parcell (who is now 14), while Dean Hadley and James Batchelor move up to eleven and twelve.
Hull KR 2024 squad numbers: 1 Peta Hiku, 2 Niall Evalds, 3 Tom Opacic, 4 Oliver Gildart, 5 Ryan Hall, 7 Mikey Lewis, 8 Sauaso Sue, 9 Jez Litten, 10 George King, 11 Dean Hadley, 12 James Batchelor, 13 Elliot Minchella, 14 Matt Parcell, 15 Sam Luckley, 16 Jai Whitbread, 17 Matty Storton, 19 Yusuf Aydin, 20 Kelepi Tanginoa, 21 Corey Hall, 22 Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e, 23 Louis Senior, 24 Reiss Butterworth, 25 Harvey Moore, 26 AJ Wallace, 27 Tyrone May, 28 Zach Fishwick, 29 Louix Gorman, 30 Leo Tennison, 31 Lennie Ellis, 32 Connor Barley, 33 Harvey Horne, 34 Neil Tchamambe, 35 Joe Burgess.
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