Tick tactics are working for Leeds Rhinos says Mikolaj Oledzki

Rhinos will aim for a fourth successive win when their former coach Brian McDermott’s Toronto Wolfpack visit Emerald Headingley on Thursday.

Since being hammered 30-4 at home by Hull in round one a month ago, Rhinos have scored 110 points and conceded only 18.

The size and manner of their 36-0 victory over Warrington Wolves last week made the rest of Betfred Super League sit up and take notice and Oledzki admitted: “It was really good for us.”

He said: “We were talking about not having won three games in a row for quite a while so that was the challenge for us that we wanted to tick off.

“It is always good to build momentum. We had a good win at Salford the week before, but we weren’t at our best so it was good to see a reaction from everyone.”

Rhinos are now on their best run against Super League opposition since 2017, the year they won an eighth Grand Final and Oledzki made his first team debut.

He said: “We had a very good win at the end of last year against Warrington at Headingley so there’s been a few good wins, but this is one of the better ones because it’s the start of the season and you want to build momentum.

“We’ve beaten Hull KR and Salford and Warrington are big contenders for the top-three.

“To turn them over 36-0 is a big score, but we are not getting carried away.

“We know there’s still stuff to improve on, even though it was a good performance.”

Rhinos have let in a total of four tries in their last three games and gone three halves of rugby without conceding a point.

Oledzki described their defence against Warrington as “awesome”.

“Everyone dug in, our line speed was great and our contact was great,” he recalled.

“Everyone was really chuffed. It is always hard to get a zero and not let any tries in, no matter who you play.

“Warrington are a top side and to get a zero against them is a big achievement for us.

“It is good for us as a team, a confidence boost to know we can do that. We just need to back it up now.”

Rhinos have a short turnaround to Thursday’s home clash with Super League’s bottom club, who were beaten 32-0 by St Helens last Saturday.

They will go into the game as hot favourites, but McDermott will have Wolfpack fired up to shock his previous club and Oledzki knows the hosts can’t expect anything other than a tough battle.s

“We have spoken about that, keeping composed and not getting carried away.” he stressed.

“I think from what we have been through last year and previous years we know we can’t let it get to our heads.

“We need to stay composed and we know it is going to be a big challenge against Toronto.

“We are going to get our heads down, recover and get everything right for Thursday.

“We know they will throw everything at us - they have nothing to lose, they are a good side and we have to expect the unexpected.”

The form of Rhinos’ young players in the early stages of this year has been a revelation, with Jack Walker, Harry Newman, Cameron Smith and Oledzki all stepping up to a new level.

Oledzki, 21, is ever-present so far, with two starts, but the England academy and Knights forward insisted: “I am still learning and trying to get a few things right. Whether I start or I come off the bench my role is the same. I just need to carry hard and tackle hard and make sure I am dominant when I come on. The role doesn’t change. I like starting, but then again I like coming off the bench as well.”