Leeds Rhinos' Mikolaj Oledzki talks proving a point, enjoying his rugby and earning rival teams' respect
Leeds Rhinos’ England prop Mikolaj Oledzki admits he has something to prove this season.
Oledzki will leave Rhinos at the end of the campaign to begin a three-year contract with new Australian club Perth Bears. And he stressed: “I want to make sure I show the team, the fans and BA [coach Brad Arthur] I am still here to play my best rugby and I want to win silverware.”
Oledzki missed Rhinos’ opening four Betfred Super League fixtures because of a rib injury, but has been a key figure in a run of three successive wins which have lifted them top of the table ahead of Friday’s home clash with Catalans Dragons. “To be playing well as a team is great,” he stated.
“We want to be up there and we are up there at the moment. We are going in the right direction and I think we are all enjoying our rugby at the moment, which is what it’s all about.”
Last week’s 56-22 win at Huddersfield Giants was the second time Rhinos have scored a half-century of points in eight regular-season games this year and came despite them conceding a try before they’d had possession of the ball. “Something we have really been emphasising lately is our response to things going against us,” Oledzki revealed.
“As a team we are trying to build that character of when things go against us not losing our cool and making sure we respond right. I think most of the time we have nailed that. It was a good response from the lads and I feel like most of the game we played exactly how Leeds Rhinos as a team want to play.”
That said, he admitted: “The tries we conceded we are disappointed with. Points difference is important, especially with a lot of teams on the same points at the moment. It could come down to that so it was disappointing, but also wins are hard to come by and Huddersfield have been playing well the last few weeks.
“We expected a tough game and it is easy to fall when you go there. The atmosphere isn’t quite Headingley, it can be a bit quiet sometimes and it can be easy to fall into the trap of letting that atmosphere dictate how you play as a team. But I think we nailed it and played with intent and executed our plan well.”
Catalans, whose interim-coach is ex-Leeds scrum-half Ryan Sheridan, are also on the back of an impressive win, 38-22 against Warrington Wolves last Saturday. Rhinos lost to the French outfit twice last season and Oledzki insisted: “The good thing is, every game is a tough one for us. I think we have earned the respect from other teams that whenever they come to play us it feels like a Grand Final.
“For us, that’s a good thing. The big scores are great for morale and feel great, but I think the tough games help to build character and at the end of the year that’s what gets you over the line, being in those tough games and having to grind them out.
“This week won’t be any different; whenever we play them it is a tough game and a physical game. Every game is important and a must-win for us and that’s how we will treat it.”