'A way better product': Leeds Rhinos' Mikolaj Oledzki talks Super League shake-up and return from injury

After years of complaints from players and coaches, one round will be spread across the holiday weekend this season, meaning teams play just once rather than on Maundy Thursday/Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Rhinos are last up, on Sunday evening at home to Huddersfield Giants and Oledzki insisted: “It’s three games in about 10 days usually, so it is a step in the right direction, for us as players and I think fans too.”

He said: “When you play that many games in a short period of time, the quality drops. I think that’s natural because players pull up a bit sore, there’s fatigue there and you get a few scrappy games.

“If you play one game a week everyone’s ready to go and you get a way better product and the lads can enjoy it a bit more as well.”

Rhinos coach Rohan Smith will name his initial squad on Friday afternoon and Oledzki confirmed he is fit and available after returning from injury in last week’s 20-12 defeat at Hull KR.

That was his first game since a shoulder operation last autumn and he said: “I feel absolutely fine.

“There’s a fair few parts of my game I need to polish, but fitness-wise I felt great and my body feels great too. I am really confident, but I know there’s a fair few things I have to improve on rugby-wise.”

The defeat in East Yorkshire was a tough return for Oledzki as Rhinos, with wind and rain in their faces during the first-half, fell victim to Jordan Abdull’s boot.

They trailed 18-0 after 41 minutes, but steadied the ship after that without managing to get within touching distance of Rovers.

“It’s frustrating the game went the way it did,” Oledzki admitted. “We know we are better than that and we will be better for it.

“The lads have been playing great and [last week] was a difficult night. We’ll have a plan on Sunday and we’ll concentrate on our own game and get the small things right.”