“The truth is, we’re not as popular or well known as footballers. There is a need to think about how to live post-rugby.” It’s the reality every rugby league player faces. Planning ahead for a ‘second’ career, whilst in the early stages of the here and now, can be hard to grasp for some young players. But it’s a challenge Leeds Rhinos star, Mikolaj Oledzki, is taking head-on.
Within two months in 2018, at the age of 19, Oledzki bought a house and became a father. Reality hit. The financial demands and need to protect his family gave the Poland-born prop an incentive to prepare for the future – when his rugby league career is over.
“As an 18-year-old you don’t really need a lot of money to live a good life style because you always have your parents that pay for you, but when you get to that age where you have your own house and pay your own bills, you realise you don’t get paid as much as you thought you would as a rugby league player,” admits Oledzki, who lives in Castleford with his partner, Amy, and their daughter, Luna.
When he was eight years old, Oledzki moved to England from Gdansk, Poland and was introduced to rugby league in 2012 by his Year 9 high school friends. “They took me to a club called East Leeds and I started my rugby league journey there with them,” he said. Oledzki was later signed up by the Leeds scholarship system. After making his professional debut for Bradford Bulls in 2017, he made his breakthrough in the Rhinos first team in 2018. Now 21, the ex-gymnast, diver and swimmer is training to be a qualified personal trainer, as well as considering potential university degrees to help achieve his future ambition of becoming a police officer.
“My mindset has changed massively.”
“There is a need to think about having enough stuff going on to live off a smaller salary.
“You can’t really walk into a job that will pay you a certain amount to look after your family as well you did for the last 10-15 years.
“Especially as a father, you don’t want to be in that situation where you’re struggling, and you can’t provide. It’s important to have job security. Even the way I spend my money – I think about the future a lot more now.
“Being realistic for my life after rugby – police work is something that interests me. I’ve been looking at a few different courses and what they can offer me and if it is suitable for me to study at university, whilst also playing for Leeds.
“I have to think what I can do that will give me a stable income. I do want more kids in the future, and I have to think of how I can look after them when I stop playing and be a good role model to them.”
To succeed in his intentions, Oledzki is receiving help from Leeds Player Welfare Manager, Nigel Johnston. In January 2018, Rugby League Cares, took over rugby league’s Welfare Policy from the Rugby Football League. Both the RFL and all 12 Super League clubs provide funding for RL Cares, with the clubs required to have a full-time welfare provision; a point of confidential contact for players and any issues they may have.
And it’s a provision England Knights forward, Oledzki, has benefitted from, revealing: “Nigel is the person I’d call if I had a problem with anything. He’s massive to me. Without him, I think a few people would struggle, myself included. When you talk to him, it’s personal – I feel I can open up to him.”
Johnston, 57, is a trained councillor who runs his own, independent welfare business – Swan CMC (Coaching Mentoring Counselling). Between 2000 and 2015, he and his wife, Theresa, fostered 23 children, as well as having four children of their own. Christopher, one of the four, tragically died from a drug overdose at the age of 21 in 2017. Johnston is now using his previous life experiences to support rugby league players' well-being and future visions.
“For the majority of my life, I’ve done a lot of caring. Upmost and foremost, I’m a carer. A lot of the children we fostered would come really damaged to us with anxiety and depression. It’s helped me to not get flustered. To be calm. To listen. Those skills have helped me build the trust.
“It’s also about having the knowledge on transition. Creating a dual purpose for players – whether that’s another job, training for a job, going to university or educating themselves – is key to not having that pressure and stress.”
To assist in delivering the Welfare Policy, Rugby League Cares employs a full-time Welfare and Development Manager, Careers Coach and Transition Manager. Careers Coach, Julie Measures, 58, who has over 30 years of experience in rugby league player welfare, added: “My role is primarily working with the Player Welfare Managers to advise and support players in their long-term career aims, so that once they have finished playing, they have something to go on to and are not left with nothing.
“Some players will be really focused on the long term – they have an aim and a sense of direction and I say that is the most important thing.”
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