WANE REALLY IS TAKING THE MIK!
Oledzki thought England call was just a wind-up
THE remarkable rugby league journey of Mikolaj Oledzki reached a new height yesterday when he joined Shaun Wane’s England training squad.
The Polish-born frontrower only started playing the sport at 13 after his family moved from Gdansk when he was eight.
Nine years on, he was one of four players called up by Wane to join his first field session as coach in Leeds.
Rhinos team-mate Kruise Leeming (inset, below) and Huddersfield pair Matty English and Jake Wardle were also added to the group with several players unable to train through injury.
And for Oledzki, an England Academy international who lifted the Challenge Cup with Leeds last year, it marked the latest step on his incredible path.
Oledzki, 22, said: “I guess you have to enjoy the journey, you never know where it’s going to take you.
“I am quite fortunate it has taken me this far. I’m very grateful but like to think it’s come from hard work and commitment to be the best I can be. I make the most of every opportunity.”
Oledzki admitted he wasn’t sure whether the call from Wane – who was appointed at the start of last year but had not been able to take charge of his squad physically due to
Covid was genuine. He said: “It was the one of the best phone calls I’ve had in my rugby career. It was a nice surprise. I couldn’t believe it, I thought it was somebody having me on. We had Zoom meetings with Shaun before the season started about what he would like to see from us. He showed us a few clips and videos, which areas we needed to improve on and what it takes to be that international player. That helped us set a few targets to be at international standard. It was great to get someone else’s point of view too, not just coaches at your club, but international coaches, so it was really beneficial to me. I’m going to make sure I stay in this team and get a place.”
Oledzki’s bid to earn selection for the World Cup in the autumn will also have support from members of his family in Gdansk and
Warsaw. He added: “Everyone is proud of me.”
Oledzki’s Leeds team-mate Zane Tetevano was last night handed a four-match ban for the tackle that saw him sent off at St Helens on Saturday.