Leeds Rhinos signing explains what strange final game for former club was like

When Derrell Olpherts played his last game for the Castleford Tigers he had already signed for Leeds Rhinos.

It was also up against the Rhinos away at Headingley in a do or die game.

With the two teams were both vying for the final place in the play-offs and the Tigers led with five minutes to go until the Rhinos turned things around.

It would prove to be Olpherts’ final game at the Tigers and speaking exclusively to Serious About Rugby League, Olpherts explained what this strange final game was like as he played against his future club.

He said: “They weren’t my team, Castleford were my team, that’s where my intentions were. I didn’t owe nothing to Leeds yet but I owed everything to Castleford because they were my team but it was a bit of a weird one, it was a great game and you look what Leeds did to get to the Grand Final, it was a special achievement.

“It was an emotional one, I’ve made a lot of mates there and I couldn’t say a bad thing about Castleford as a club. I loved my time there, it was a good three years of my life there.”

Now moving to Leeds, he is excited by the Rhinos fans but thanked the Tigers’ supporters too:

“I know what the fans are like so, it will be interesting I’ll tell you that.

“I’m looking forward to the first home game at Headingley, it’s a fantastic stadium and they’ve got a good fan base. It’s a great ground.

“At home at Cas it’s an old school style stadium which has it’s different perks but Leeds’ is top tier.”