Mikolaj Oledzki has revealed how withering criticism of his Leeds Rhinos side helped to inspire their stunning transformation from no-hopers to Super League Grand Finalists. Richard Agar infamously quit as head coach after just six games of the season because he felt his players were no longer responding to his methods.
A fight with relegation loomed, but club legend Jamie Jones-Buchanan stopped the rot during a brief spell in interim charge before Rohan Smith arrived from Australia in May to fashion a remarkable renaissance. The Headingley giants face defending champions St Helens at Old Trafford on Saturday bidding to win their ninth Super League title, yet Oledzki reckons the Rhinos’ new-found resilience stemmed from being written off earlier this year.
Asked if criticism of the team had affected him, the Poland-born England international said: “Yes. I know you’re not meant to read stuff, but some of the things that you see as a player hurt you. As a player, you take it personally and feel like everything that you see is negative sometimes.
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“The older players might know how to handle it and block it out, but the younger lads see it. I have to say that some of the stuff we’ve heard and seen, when we weren’t going well, has hurt. Looking back now, that has built us as a team and I reckon that’s where our resilience and determination has helped us when we’ve been in a tough spot during games.
“We’ve done and seen it all this year, but we were our worst enemies at that moment in time [earlier this season] and we can’t blame anyone else. We dug ourselves out of that and are now in a great position.”
Oledzki spoke of a “dark cloud” hanging over the club following their dismal start to the campaign which prompted Agar to throw in the towel. “We didn’t play badly, things just didn’t go our way and that first game against Warrington was a bit of self-destruction with the penalties we conceded,” said the 23-year-old.
“We weren’t that far off, but when you play for Leeds there are high expectations. We haven’t quite met them the last few years and then the pressure starts building and building. When it wasn’t going well at the start of the season, as a player you could sense there was a bit of pressure to start playing well and climbing up the table.
“I feel that’s what affected us as players and how we played – it was that dark cloud hanging over us going into games, thinking we need to win and not concentrating on the rugby aspect. We thought ‘we need to win because we’re not getting results at the moment’. The pressure was there and as a young player too it wasn’t a nice time.
“For me, and I don’t know about anybody else, I found it quite difficult. I expected more of myself individually. I felt like I wasn’t playing my best and I felt that was affecting results too. After a while, you start of doubting yourself and blaming yourself a little bit.
“It was a tough time, but Jamie Jones took over and then Rohan came in. We got a few wins in a row and confidence starts going up. You kind of keep looking forward and now we’re here in a Grand Final.”
Laid-back Aussie Smith has poured untold confidence into his players and Oledzki is one of many to have reaped the benefits. He has played every game for the Rhinos so far this season – their only ever-present – after rediscovering his best form. Oledzki reflected: “The start of the season was disappointing, from a team perspective and individually because I didn’t feel I was playing my best.
“I was probably nowhere near I needed to be but then things changed - Rohan came in and I started really enjoying my rugby again. When you play with a bit of confidence, good things happen. Different people like a different approach – some people like their coach to give them a spray and that gets the best out of them.
“Other players like their coach to put their arm around them and say ‘look, I know what you’re capable of, I need you to do what you do best’. When Rohan came in, he took that anxiety and doubt away from me. He just told me to go and enjoy myself and do what I do best, and everything else will take care of itself.
“That was the gist of the conversation and instantly I felt the pressure was off me. I was going into games wanting to enjoy myself and take everything in, instead of playing with a cloud over my head. From a player’s perspective, I couldn’t really tell you exactly what has changed under Rohan. He’s just a great guy and has a really positive energy about him.
“He’s made a very positive impact on the players with the way that he handles himself, so he’s just got everyone enjoying their rugby again.
“If you look at the rugby that we’ve played under Rohan, it’s really exciting. Some of the tries we’ve been scoring, and the resilience we’ve built within the team, is no coincidence to us as players. We’ve all bought into it and it has been a big team effort from players and staff to turn things around and create what we have got at the moment.”
Smith is a noted people person and Oledzki continued: “He asks about the family and will message you at home on a day off. If you’re carrying an injury and something is not right, he will always make sure that you have everything you need. He’s a really great guy and a great coach, so I’m really happy that we’ve got him for a long time.”
Oledzki realised one dream two years ago when, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, he helped Leeds to a Challenge Cup final win over Salford at Wembley. But that was played in front of empty stands and this weekend promises to be much different at a raucous Old Trafford.
“Winning the Challenge Cup was a big achievement, but unfortunately none of our families were there to see it,” said Oledzki. "That was pretty sad, but we’ve got another chance this week and our families can be a part of it, which is amazing.
“We’re all really looking forward to it and I will have a fair few family members there, so it will be a proud moment. It’s the game that every player wants to be involved in and you’ve got to be willing to run yourself into the grave to get the win.
“There are some world-class players who might never get the chance to play in a Grand Final, so it’s a massive opportunity that you have to take with both hands. You can’t let the game swallow you up and we need to show our best.
“It feels like this year has been two different seasons and to experience it first-hand is what I’d call a true rugby league rollercoaster. That’s rugby league and I guess the journey is the most important bit.
“What happens during the season is what builds you as a team and as a player. Now we will hopefully use that journey – me individually with all those games I’ve been involved in and us as a team – to fuel us through into Saturday and hopefully get the win.”
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