‘He’s shouting pick me’ – has Lewis played way into England’s Ashes team?

PA Media
  • 61 Comments

If there was any lingering doubt Mikey Lewis would be in contention to start for England in the first Test of the Ashes series against Australia in two weeks’ time then his performance for Hull KR on Saturday surely put paid to that.

The talismanic 24-year-old scored the Robins’ first try as his side beat Wigan Warriors to win the Super League Grand Final for the first time.

That try, which came off the back of a stunning dummy, put the wheels in motion for Hull KR to register a stunning domestic treble and to write their name in the history books as they became only the fifth team to win in a Grand Final since its inception almost 30 years ago.

He may not have been named this season’s Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel, narrowly missing out on the honour he won in 2024 to Leeds’ Jake Connor, but he won the Rob Burrow Award for man of the match in the Grand Final.

It leaves England boss Shaun Wane – who is set to name his squad on Monday – with a selection headache for his first starting line-up to face Australia when they meet at Wembley in 14 days’ time.

Warrington’s George Williams is England’s captain, while Harry Smith – who himself scored on Saturday as Wigan threatened a second-half comeback – is also in contention alongside Lewis for a starting place.

Lewis shouting ‘don’t pick me if you dare’ to Wane

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

A first Ashes series for almost 20 years is a big occasion and Hull KR head coach Willie Peters – who will be part of the Kangaroos’ backroom team for the series – believes Lewis’ performance on the Grand Final stage was a pivotal moment in his career.

“I said out there that Mikey Lewis has arrived and what I meant was, that was a big moment,” Peters told BBC Radio Humberside.

“It doesn’t get bigger than a Grand Final and he owned that first half.

“He cops a lot but it just shows the type of player we’ve got, who he is and what he’s about.

“He’s had massive games this year but in terms of Grand Finals he was ready for that and he stood up and I’m so proud given what he has to cop.

“But he’s grown so much and he was a difference.”

Salford Red Devils boss Paul Rowley thinks that despite a crowded line-up of players bidding to start, Lewis has convincingly made his case.

“Mikey Lewis is shouting from the rooftops ‘pick me’, or ‘don’t pick me if you dare’,” Rowley told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“He’s saying he can do it, he’s a big player and he’s doing it on the big stage.

“He was deservedly man of the match, he was fantastic.

    • 3 hours ago
    • 1 hour ago
Hull KR's Mikey Lewis with the Super League trophy and the Rob Burrow Award for man of the match PA Media

Related topics

  • Hull Kingston Rovers
  • Rugby League

Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton dies aged 79

American actress Diane Keaton, known for her Oscar-winning performance in 1977’s Annie Hall and her role in The Godfather films, has died at the age of 79.

Keaton died in California and her loved ones have asked for privacy, a family spokesperson told People magazine on Saturday.

Recommended Stories

list of 3 itemsend of list

Keaton, who appeared in more than 60 films, stood out in Hollywood with a personal style that favoured androgynous looks: suits, turtleneck sweaters and her trademark hats.

The actress shot to fame in the 1970s with her role as Kay Adams, the girlfriend and eventual wife of Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy as well as her collaborations with director Woody Allen.

Keaton frequently worked with Allen, portraying the titular character in Annie Hall, the charming girlfriend of Allen’s comic Alvy Singer.

“It was an idealised version of me, let’s put it that way,” Keaton said about the film in an interview with the United States TV network CBS News in 2004.

The film also garnered Oscars for best picture, best director and best original screenplay, cementing Keaton’s place as one of the industry’s top actresses and an offbeat style icon as well.

She made a total of eight films with Allen, including 1979’s Manhattan.

Her star-making performances in the 1970s were not a flash in the pan as she would continue to charm new generations for decades, thanks in part to a longstanding collaboration with filmmaker Nancy Meyers, with whom she made four films.

A BAFTA and Golden Globe winner, Keaton scored Oscar nominations three other times for best actress for Reds, Marvin’s Room and Something’s Gotta Give.

Her many beloved films included The First Wives Club, Father of the Bride, The Family Stone and the Book Club movies.

Born Diane Hall in Los Angeles on January 5, 1946, Keaton was romantically involved with Allen, Pacino and Warren Beatty (her Reds costar), but she never married.

“I think I was really afraid of men and also very attracted to extremely talented people that were dazzling,” she told Elle magazine in 2015. “I don’t think that makes for a good marriage with a person like me, someone who just didn’t adjust well.”

Zelenskyy urges Trump to broker end to Ukraine war after Gaza deal agreed

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Donald Trump to broker peace in Ukraine like in “the Middle East” during a phone call, saying if the United States president could stop one war, “others can be stopped as well.”

Saturday’s call came a day after Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine’s energy grid, knocking out power to parts of the capital, Kyiv, and nine other Ukrainian regions, which have since been restored.

Recommended Stories

list of 3 itemsend of list

Diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have slowed in recent weeks, in part because global attention has shifted to brokering a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza, Kyiv said.

Trump, who announced the first phase of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, met Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks in August but failed to secure progress on a ceasefire in the European war.

“I had a call with US President Donald Trump. A very positive and productive one,” Zelenskyy said on Facebook, congratulating Trump for his “outstanding” ceasefire plan in the Middle East.

“If a war can be stopped in one region, then surely other wars can be stopped as well, including the Russian war,” Zelenskyy added, calling for Trump to pressure the Kremlin into negotiations.

Relations between the two leaders have warmed dramatically since February when they sparred during a televised meeting at the White House.

Trump has since grown more hostile towards Moscow while expressing sympathy for Ukraine.

In September, he wrote on Truth Social that Kyiv should try to “take back” all its occupied territory with Europe’s and NATO’s help.

US first lady Melania Trump said on Friday that she had secured the release of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia after establishing an extraordinary back channel of communication with Putin.

Russian attacks on Ukraine killed at least five people on Saturday and cut power to parts of southern Ukraine’s Odesa region, according to Ukrainian officials.

Two of the people died inside a church in Kostyantynivka when it was hit by a strike, according to local authorities.

A lone window is lit in an apartment building in a neighbourhood hit by power cuts after Russian drone and missile strikes in Kyiv on October 10, 2025 [Thomas Peter/Reuters]

Using ‘Russian assets’

Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, said “the main work to restore the power supply” was completed but some localised outages were still affecting the Ukrainian capital after Friday’s “massive” Russian attacks.

Ukrainian drone attacks, meanwhile, killed two people in Russia, according to regional officials.

In the Russian border region of Belgorod, a truck driver was killed by a Ukrainian strike, according to local officials.

Moscow has targeted Ukraine’s energy grid each winter since it launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, cutting power and heating to millions of households and disrupting water supplies in what Kyiv says is a brazen war crime.

Russia denies targeting civilians and says Ukraine uses the energy sites to power its military sector.

Both countries have accused each other in recent months of frustrating progress towards a peace deal.

Russia blames Kyiv and its European allies for the impasse, accusing them of undermining peace negotiations with Washington. Ukraine and Europe accuse Russia of playing for time so it can seize more Ukrainian territory.

Zelenskyy said in his nightly address on Friday that Russia was taking advantage of the world being “almost entirely focused on the prospect of establishing peace in the Middle East” and called for strengthening Ukraine’s air defence systems and placing tighter sanctions on Russia.

How can England qualify for 2026 World Cup?

World Cup qualifying: Latvia v England

Venue: Daugava Stadium, Riga Date: Tuesday, 14 October Time: 19:45 BST

England are one win away from securing their spot at the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Serbia’s 1-0 defeat by Albania on Saturday means Thomas Tuchel’s England can qualify by winning in Latvia on Tuesday, with two matches of their campaign still to play after that trip.

The Three Lions have not missed a major tournament since 2008, when they fell short in qualifying for the European Championship under Steve McClaren.

Tuchel’s side have won all five of their Group K fixtures to date without conceding a goal.

What happens if England fail to win in Latvia?

Anything but victory in Latvia on Tuesday would leave England still looking for a win against Serbia in November to guarantee qualification.

A point in Latvia, though, would mean a draw with Serbia would all but secure their spot because England have a vastly better goal difference than second-placed Albania.

England travel to Albania for their final group fixture on 16 November.

The 12 group runners-up in the European section of qualifying will participate in the play-offs.

They will be joined by the four best-ranked group winners of the 2024-25 Nations League that did not finish in the top two of their European qualifying groups.

The 16 teams who enter the play-offs will be drawn into four play-off paths, with four teams featuring in each.

England players walk on WembleyGetty Images

When could England find out who is in their World Cup group?

Should England qualify for next summer’s finals over the coming weeks, they will learn their opposition very quickly.

The World Cup draw takes place on 5 December at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington DC.

What is Ask Me Anything?

Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.

We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.

The team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and pundits.

We will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world’s biggest sporting events.

More questions answered…

Get in touch

Related topics

  • Football
  • England Men’s Football Team

England on brink of World Cup place as Serbia lose

World Cup qualifying: Latvia v England

Venue: Daugava Stadium, Riga Date: Tuesday, 14 October Time: 19:45 BST

England are one win away from securing their spot at the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Serbia’s 1-0 defeat by Albania on Saturday means Thomas Tuchel’s England can qualify by winning in Latvia on Tuesday, with two matches of their campaign still to play after that trip.

The Three Lions have not missed a major tournament since 2008, when they fell short in qualifying for the European Championship under Steve McClaren.

Tuchel’s side have won all five of their Group K fixtures to date without conceding a goal.

What happens if England fail to win in Latvia?

Anything but victory in Latvia on Tuesday would leave England still looking for a win against Serbia in November to guarantee qualification.

A point in Latvia, though, would mean a draw with Serbia would all but secure their spot because England have a vastly better goal difference than second-placed Albania.

England travel to Albania for their final group fixture on 16 November.

The 12 group runners-up in the European section of qualifying will participate in the play-offs.

They will be joined by the four best-ranked group winners of the 2024-25 Nations League that did not finish in the top two of their European qualifying groups.

The 16 teams who enter the play-offs will be drawn into four play-off paths, with four teams featuring in each.

England players walk on WembleyGetty Images

When could England find out who is in their World Cup group?

Should England qualify for next summer’s finals over the coming weeks, they will learn their opposition very quickly.

The World Cup draw takes place on 5 December at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington DC.

What is Ask Me Anything?

Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.

We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.

The team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and pundits.

We will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world’s biggest sporting events.

More questions answered…

Get in touch

Related topics

  • Football
  • England Men’s Football Team

Cardiff edge out Connacht after Williams injury

Huw Evans Agency
  • 38 Comments

United Rugby Championship

Cardiff (7) 14

Tries Bowen 2 Cons Sheedy, I Lloyd

Connacht (3) 8

Wales lock Teddy Williams sustained a serious-looking ankle injury in Cardiff’s 14-8 United Rugby Championship win against Connacht sealed with two Tom Bowen tries.

The Blue and Blacks ended a five-game losing streak against the Irish province, although the loss of the Williams in the first half took some shine off.

The lock landed awkwardly on his right ankle after claiming a line-out and a lengthy lay-off looks likely.

Cardiff led 7-3 at half-time thanks to try by elusive wing Tom Bowen, who went over for a hat-trick to earn a pair of consolation bonuses at Munster seven days earlier.

    • 5 hours ago
    • 2 hours ago
    • 12 hours ago

After starting with a bonus-point win against Lions and then leaving Limerick with a pair of points, Cardiff picked up another win as they cope with the loss of head coach Matt Sherratt to the Wales management team.

Connacht opened the scoring with an 11th-minute penalty from centre Cathal Forde after a scrappy start by both sides.

Cardiff responded swiftly with a seven-pointer when nine phases in the 22 were followed by Callum Sheedy finding Bowen on the left wing with a kick-pass, which the fly-half had used for two assists at Munster seven days earlier.

Sheedy then curled in his effort from the tee to make it 7-3, but the rest of the half was a tale of missed chances for the Blue and Blacks.

They wasted two trips to the Connacht 22 and then blew another opportunity after 26 minutes when Sheedy broke through, but Bowen could not hold on to his pass when a run-in looked likely.

Cardiff needed to make their dominance count on the scoreboard, but endured a blow in the 33rd minute when Williams sustained his injury.

The hosts kept hammering away at the line, but endured more frustration when number eight Alun Lawrence was held up over the line.

The second half was delayed because of a communications issue for the officials, but the same, scrappy pattern continued after the restart with play taking place between the 22s.

Connacht blew a shot at taking the lead in the 65th minute when they worked space down the left only for replacement back Finn Treacey to drop the pass just outside the 22.

They went even closer in the 70th minute when Treacey powerfully burst to the line down the right only to knock on inches short under Sheedy’s tackle.

Connacht were suddenly looking threatening against a Blue and Blacks side clinging on and with scrum-half Johan Mulder as a makeshift centre.

Cardiff: Winnett; Beetham, Millard, S Emanuel, Bowen; Sheedy, Mulder; Southworth, Belcher (capt), Assiratti, McNally, T Williams, Donnell, D Thomas, Lawrence

Replacements: D Hughes, Barratt, Sebastian, Nott, Basham, A Davies, I Lloyd, Darwin-Lewis.

Connacht: Naughton; Mullins, Hawkshaw, Forde, Bolton; Carty, B Murphy; Buckley, Heffernan, Aungier, Murray, Joyce, Predergast (capt), S O’Brien, Jansen.

Replacements: de Buitlear, Duggan, Illo, D O’Connor, Hurley-Langton, Devine, Gavin, Treacy.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Assistant referees: Ben Breakspear, Lucas Yendle (WRU).

Related topics

  • Welsh Rugby
  • Cardiff
  • Rugby Union
  • Connacht