Mikolaj Oledzki insists two wins are the ‘only option’ for Leeds Rhinos as they push to secure a spot in the Super League top six.
The Rhinos looked to be out of the play-off race a few weeks ago, but three straight wins have pushed them right back into contention with some of their rivals losing form at the wrong time. They currently sit seventh in the table, level on points with St Helens and just one point behind the in-form Leigh Leopards, who have found a purple patch of form.
However, it’s fair to say Leeds’ remaining fixtures make them something of an outsider heading into the final couple of weeks with trips to the Super League’s top two to come. Wigan Warriors will host the Rhinos on Friday, before Brad Arthur takes his side to East Yorkshire to face Hull KR on the final day of the campaign.
They’ll have their work cut out, but if Leeds can perform like they did against Hull FC last week, they have a chance and Oledzki is confident the West Yorkshire outfit can get the job done.
“We are after two wins, that is the only option for us and it’s what we are working for. It is a massive two weeks for us and two wins is our only focus,” he said, per Serious About Rugby League’s sister site, the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“We needed to use each week as a stepping stone in the right direction and I feel like we’ve done that.
“After the London game, a massive thing for us was getting the mindset right to play Hull FC. The boys got things fixed up from the week before and it was a full 80-minute performance, very professional. It could have got a bit messy, but it was a good performance to build off going into this week.”
Oledzki returned to action last week after sitting out for a month due to a rib injury. As such, he’s determined to make an impact and have a say on how the remainder of the season pans out for Leeds Rhinos.
“It has been frustrating, watching the boys play,” he said. “They have been playing well and you just want to be out there and do anything you can to help, but I am back now and what’s been has been. I am ready to rip in for the next few weeks.
“Because of the nature of the injury, I’ve not been able to do much. It was one of those where you have to let the ribs heal and make sure they are solid before you can do anything, so there’s no movement.
“It was pretty much a case of going from not being able to do anything straight into playing, but I am happy to get that one under my belt. We have two massive games coming up and I wanted to get one under my belt before these two.”
