Leeds boss Rohan Smith knows what the Rhinos need to do to go one better next season and believes Player of the Year Mikolaj Oledzki can help lead them back to Old Trafford.
Unfancied Leeds enjoyed a stunning resurgence in Smith’s first season as head coach, capped with an unlikely Grand Final appearance where their run was finally ended by dominant champions St Helens.
Australian Smith spent Christmas in Leeds rather than heading back Down Under, with his family now settled in West Yorkshire.
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The 41-year-old says the squad has already forgotten about last season – having urged his players to start afresh rather than hold on to the memories of their unexpected run to that Grand Final.
“It was a great journey with a terrific group of people,” said Smith, whose uncle Tony enjoyed stunning success at Headingley, winning the Grand Final in 2004 and 2007.
“What a club! I still have a lot to learn about the city and the club but I have a good grasp of what we need to do now on the field.
“I was so caught in the moment when I arrived. There were a few moments that made me feel that we might be onto something. One of them was losing in Toulouse where I gained a lot of respect and trust in the players. I believed in them a lot more after that day with the heat and the travel.
“Coming home to beat Wigan in the game after that, I thought maybe the season wasn’t over. We didn’t quite get there but I’m very proud of them.”
Leeds started their preparations for the 2023 Betfred Super League season on Boxing Day with an inexperienced side well beaten by an impressive Wakefield Trinity at Headingley.
Smith was without a host of senior stars including injured England prop Mikolaj Oledzki who was this week named the club’s Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Only legends Jamie Peacock and Iestyn Harris have ever achieved that double honour.
The giant forward played through a shoulder injury to help Leeds to the Grand Final, and Smith has revealed the injury worsened when Oledzki represented England at the World Cup. He is expected to miss the start of the new season but Smith says he is the kind of player and person that he will build his squad around.
“What a guy. He carried the can a bit for us at times and was the driving force in our middle unit for most of the season.
“He plays huge minutes, throws his body around, has a great motor, and is a smiling, happy dude. His commitment at the back end of the season when he seriously hurt his shoulder but still played the big games was great. A tremendous season and brave at the end which typifies how he puts the club first.”
Leeds kick off their season on Thursday February 16th, away to Warrington on Sky Sports.
The pre-season continues elsewhere on New Year’s Eve as Great Britain legends Sean Long and Leon Pryce take charge of promotion favourites Featherstone for the first time as they host bitter rivals Castleford at Post Office Road.
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