Exclusive: Derrell Olpherts reveals he turned down other Super League clubs prior to joining Salford Red Devils including Rohan Smith’s side at the time

Derrell Olpherts is one of the big signings making his way to Leeds Rhinos in 2023 after a successful stint at Castleford Tigers.

But before he made the move to the Jungle, he made his name at Salford Red Devils in Super League after time with the Dewsbury Rams, Hemel Stags and Newcastle Thunder.

It was during his time at Newcastle Thunder, that he was flooded with offers from Super League and Championship clubs revealing how he ended up at Salford Red Devils in 2018 exclusively to Serious About Rugby League.

“I was playing pretty well and I felt I could go up to the Championship or even Super League and we were playing Toronto who were beating everyone in that league but I had a really good game against them,” Olpherts said.

“I had a lot of teams interested in me before that but after that it was even more and teams wanted me to make the move to Super League and it came around real quick.

“I had a few chats with some teams, I had a meeting with Salford and it felt right and I thought I might as well give it a go now because I have nothing to lose and that’s how it started.”

One of the clubs who tried to sign him was the Bradford Bulls then under the guidance of current Leeds Rhinos boss Rohan Smith.

This was a big part of why he joined the Rhinos ahead of 2023: “I think it was just the fact that Rohan tried to get me when I was in League 1 so he had seen my potential back then and he can see more potential in me now and that’s what I want.

“I want to see if I can develop into a different kind of player and a better player than I am now.”