Hull KR boss Willie Peters praised Mikey Lewis for stepping up to deliver – even if he now expects a knock on his door.
The Man of Steel dramatically slotted the match-winning drop goal in golden point extra-time to stave off a shock opening night loss against Castleford. But the England scrum-half was fuming he didn’t get a chance in normal time when Rhyse Martin tried and failed at breaking the deadlock at 18-18.
Peters admitted: “He looked up at the box at me! I wanted a kicker on either side. Mikey can keep practicing – and come and see me. But in golden point I knew he’d step up. That shows real maturity.
“It was great to see. Mikey’s worked hard at it as he wants those big moments. I’m really happy as it’s an area we needed to work on. Last year we had our hooker Jez Litten kicking drop goals because the halves hadn’t worked at it. But Mikey said he would.
“It was a tough game. Cas certainly came to play. It could have gone either way but what I’m pleased about is that we found a way to win.” Rovers winger Joe Burgess scored a hat-trick after overcoming an error-ridden display and Peta Hiku also crossed.
But Martin, the off-season recruit from Leeds brought in largely for his goalkicking, missed three from four attempts to leave the game tied. Castleford’s Tex Hoy was also off-cue with a penalty 90 seconds from the end of normal time.
He’d missed a last-minute kick to win last week’s Challenge Cup tie at Championship Bradford. Tigers captain Sam Wood made a public apology to the club’s supporters for that shock exit.
But they were unrecognisable here, scoring great tries from Josh Simm, Zac Cini and a brilliant solo score from Fletcher Rooney. Tigers boss Danny McGuire was released from his role as KR assistant 18 months ago and looked like getting some payback here on his old boss Peters.
His tenacious Tigers, tipped by many to finish bottom of Super League, led last year’s beaten Grand Finalists 12-8 at the break. McGuire said: “I asked them for a response and they gave it.
“I’m really proud of them. I love Tex for putting his hand up. He goes up in my estimations for having the cojones to do it. We don’t have a recognised goalkicker . I’m not bothered he missed it. I’m more bothered that he had the nuts to step up.”
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