Leeds Rhinos signing reveals he previously turned down the chance to work with Rohan Smith

Derrell Olpherts has joined Leeds Rhinos and Rohan Smith in 2023 but previously turned down the opportunity to work with the Rhinos boss.

This came when he made the move from League One to Super League with Salford Red Devils when Smith and his Bradford Bulls tried to sign him but the chance to play Super League and the fact a move to the AJ Bell felt right saw him join the Red Devils.

“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,” he said to Serious About Rugby League.

“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.”

But the fact that Smith had tried to sign him all those years ago was key in him joining Smith and his Rhinos in 2023:

“He didn’t have to sell it too hard, Leeds Rhinos sells itself really, I think it was just the fact that he 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.

“I want to help the team anywhere they need to be helped, playing, on the field, off the field, in the team or not in the team, there’s so many ways you can improve and help the team.”