'No preference': Derrell Olpherts happy to play anywhere for Leeds Rhinos after Castleford Tigers move
New Leeds Rhinos signing Derrell Olpherts insists he doesn’t have a preference for which position he will play this season.
Olpherts, who will turn 31 on Saturday, spent the early part of his career in the lower divisions at Dewsbury Rams, Hemel Stags and Newcastle Thunder before making a Betfred Super League breakthrough with Salford Red Devils in 2018.
He had two seasons there and then spent three at Castleford Tigers before joining Rhinos last autumn.
Olpherts arrived at Headingley with impressive credentials, having made more tackle busts than any other Super League player last year.
He also ranked second for carries and third in terms of metres made.
Despite making his name at Salford and Tigers as a winger, he started his first Leeds appearance, against Wakefield Trinity on Boxing Day, at centre, after training there for much of pre-season.
He switched to wing during the game, can also fill in at full-back and insisted: “I don’t have a preference.”
He stressed: “I am happy to play anywhere in back-field for Leeds - left side, right side, centre, wing, full-back - back-row if they need me to.
“I’ve played centre for the majority of my career, so I feel comfortable there.”
Olpherts has been awarded squad number 16 and has effectively replaced long-serving three-quarter Tom Briscoe, who is now at Leigh Leopards, on Rhinos’ roster.
Ash Handley and David Fusitu’a are established as Leeds’ wingers, with Liam Tindall also snapping at their heels.
Harry Newman and new signing Nene Macdonald are likely to be first-choice centres and youngsters including Levi Edwards and Max Simpson are also pushing for a place.
“Competition is huge at Leeds, it always is,” Olpherts noted.
“It’s good for everyone to be in that environment, but you’re not guaranteed a place at any team.”
Olpherts showed some good signs in the Christmas fixture, despite Rhinos’ 38-20 defeat.
“There’s plenty of room for improvement, in all aspects of the game,” he admitted.
“We have got three more friendlies and I am looking forward to playing in them and kicking on.
“There were good signs all over the park and everyone will review their own game and work on what they need to get better at.”
The first pre-season game is mainly a case of blowing away off–season cobwebs and Olpherts added: “It was a great hit out, it was good to put on the shirt and get out in front of the home fans.
“The atmosphere is always great at Headingley, for and against. It doesn’t matter which side of the field you’re on, it is always good.
“That’s one thing I am looking forward to, but there’s quite a lot - being in a new environment, with new players - and that just adds to it.”
Olpherts has been training with Leeds for two months and feels he has “settled in great”.
He said: “It is still early days, there’s still people to come back and combinations to pick up on, but there’s plenty to take [from pre-season so far] and I am loving it here.”