Hull Kingston Rovers half-back Mikey Lewis is encouraged that Dean Hadley can step in again at loose forward - but knows what a big void Elliot Minchella leaves, after the club secured their top-two target.
The top-two finish in Super League, sealed by defeating Leeds Rhinos, means that Rovers' next game is a home semi-final - and it becomes the second game of Minchella's two-game ban for a high shot. Minchella and Lewis were the two Rovers players named in the Super League Dream Team - and were also first and second respectively at the club's player of the year awards.
Lewis said: "We have got Dean Hadley who can fill in and that's so good. But Mini gives us a lot. He leads them middle boys around - if you ask him to do something, he'll do it. Having that understanding of each other is huge. He knows how to get something else out of you. His first year of being captain, he's surprised me. He's done a fantastic job. How he leads the boys on and off the field, it's a privilege to play alongside him."
Asked about the top-two finish and week without a game, Lewis replied: "It was massive and that was a team goal to be in that top two. We've got a few sore bodies so the time will go a long way to give them a rest and refresh and be ready to go next week."
After the most recent game that was won last Friday against Leeds, in which Lewis delivered crucial contributions, he had a busy start to the week - travelling for the Dream Team presentation then the club's awards. On the Dream Team success, the Hull-born 23-year-old said: "To have my family there, I was proud. It was a bit surreal at first, you don't really think as a player that you're going to make the Dream Team. It's just about being consistent with performances. That was my goal this year. For my self-growth and where I want to go in the game, I want to be more consistent with my performances and that's what I've done."
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