I understand what the pressures are for Mikey, it's not easy to navigate

PAUL COOKE KNOWS ALL ABOUT BEING IN THE SPOTLIGHT AS RUGBY STAR

- By MATT SHAW

Hull KR's Mikey Lewis has been given advice by Paul Cooke

(RICHARD SELLERS/PA WIRE)

If anyone understands the pressure of life Mikey Lewis experiences, it is Paul Cooke.

Lewis is quite arguably the modern-day Cooke, the most talked-about rugby league player in the city of Hull and also the most devisive.

Adored by one half, despised by the other, Lewis is never far away from the headlines or social media attention. Back in the day, Cooke took on that role.

It’s a challenge only amplified in a rugby-mad city, where everything, both on and off the field, is scrutinised. That said, Cooke believes Lewis is handling it well.

"First and foremost, he is a magnificent player," Cooke said on All Out Rugby League's Back 10 podcast. "He’s an X-Factor player who can produce a moment of magic and win you a game. That doesn’t happen in every game or in all big games, you've got to do it to a consistent level and he has done. To win a Man of Steel last year, you don’t win that without being a consistent player round-to-round; you're not in the running for it.