The path of Salford outside back Derrell Olpherts to Super League is not the norm.
Most players come through junior clubs, are headhunted by Super League academies and then make their way through to the first-team. Often by their early 20s they are regulars with more than 100 appearances to their name. If they haven’t made it by 23 or 24, often they are deemed as washed up.
Olpherts is bucking the trend – at the age of 26 he has yet to play a single Super League game. But he has the chance this year after being plucked from League 1 club Newcastle by the Red Devils. Olpherts’ journey is a remarkable one of perseverance and determination considering he was playing only as an amateur with Shaw Cross just three years ago. Now he is close to reaching his dream.
“Anyone who plays rugby has the dream to play at the pinnacle of the sport,” he says.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to achieve. I know there’s going to be a battle for spots at that high level, but that’s only going to bring the best out of me. Being around better players and having to fight every week for your sport.”
With the likes of former New Zealand international Junior Sa’u and Kris Welham in front of him in the centres, and Gareth O’Brien and Niall Evans in front of him at fullback, Olpherts has his work cut out in front of him. But the Wakefield-born player won’t die wondering.
“I think I’ve got everything inside me to make it work,” he says.
“I’m only going to learn by being around players who’ve done huge things in the game.”
Olpherts first got involved with rugby league as a seven-year-old with Westgate.
“I think my mum needed to put somewhere where I could let out a bit of energy,” he jokes.
“My first club was Westgate until I was 16. That’s where I started. I went to Featherstone Under-23s when I was 16, I was there for two years. [But] I wasn’t getting what I wanted out of rugby. I ended up going back to amateur and then I got a shot at Dewsbury.”
📹 Full press conference on Salford Red Devils TV tomorrow.
However, at Championship club Dewsbury he was released in 2012 by new coach Glenn Morrison.
“I went back to playing amateur. I never stopped chasing what I wanted to achieve. I played for Shaw Cross Sharks for a couple of years.”
A chance to join League 1 outfit Hemel, and leave his hometown, proved the turning point in his career. Olpherts thrived down south, excelled with the Stags and then was signed by Newcastle. In the north-east he crossed 31 times in just 39 games with the Thunder, thereby catching the eye of Salford.
“Moving away from everything, my family, it was the best choice for me as a person. I thought if I want to give it my all I have to do it now. I put all my focus into my rugby.”
Now Olpherts has the chance to finally make his sporting dreams come true. A big outside back with size and pace, and the ability to find the try-line, he could one to watch at the AJ Bell Stadium this season.
“My main objective is to win and score. That’s what I enjoy most out of the game – scoring tries and winning. Being around the team, training with the boys, I just love everything about it. It’s the best sport in the world to me.”
