Mikolaj Oledzki has played in Challenge Cup and Grand Finals with Leeds Rhinos, but the one of the biggest days of his sporting career so far came in a pre-season friendly against Bradford Bulls.
Six years ago this week, Oledzki was part of the Rhinos squad that featured against the Bulls in 2020, as two of the sport’s bitter rivals went at it again in aid of Leeds legends Rob Burrow and Jamie Jones-Buchanan.
What was initially supposed to be a testimonial fixture for ‘JJB’, the news broke in December 2019 that Burrow had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, something that to this day has no cure.
Following the news, Jones-Buchanan opted to share his match with Burrow, and use it as a joint testimonial and fundraiser for MND-related charities. The game was broadcast live on Sky Sports, and a crowd of over 19,500 people gathered at Headingley to see some rugby league legends put on their boots one final time.
Oledzki is one of four players who featured that day to still be at the club, with Perth Bears-bound Harry Newman, current captain Ash Handley and Cameron Smith the others. Speaking to the Leeds Rhinos YouTube Channel, he recalled the day’s events and what it meant to be part of the match.
He said: “It doesn’t feel like six years ago. It’s a memorable one, probably for what it stood for and how much it meant to people, not just in rugby league but the MND community.
“Everyone got behind the game, got behind Rob and his family and Jamie Jones [Buchanan] who’s a legend of Leeds.
“…I feel like when I get to the end of my career, when I’m a bit older and reminiscing… I think that would be top of the list. Definitely in the top three.
“I’ve played at a full stadium before, but that was like someone put another 20,000 in here.
Burrow and a heap of legends took to the field in the final quarter of the game, and as the ‘Pocket Rocket’ entered the field, he was met with a huge standing ovation, in what was one of Headingley’s most iconic moments.
Oledzki, who started the game on the bench, explained how he felt seeing the Leeds greats sit alongside him on the sidelines as he waited for his chance to enter the field.
“I had Kylie Leuluai, JJB, [Jamie] Peacock, Danny McGuire, Keith Senior, Ryan Bailey, and a few more legends coming out, Rob, and it was a surreal feeling.
“I looked two rows down and I’ve got all these legends sat in front of me. It was a bit of a pinch myself moment.”
The Rhinos will once again take on Bradford in pre-season for Smith’s testimonial fixture, in what will be the first of four meetings between the two sides in 2026.
