BATLEY BULLDOGS coach James Ford reckons Derrell Olpherts will be a key player for the club and he has hailed those who helped bring him in.
Ford worked with the former Super League outside back when he was in charge of Featherstone, whose failure to make the Championship line-up for this year led to his availability.
“We got on well, and have stayed in touch,” said Ford, who left Rovers in late February last year and took the Batley reins at the end of last season.
“I wasn’t sure we’d be in a position to bring him in, but thanks to (Chairman) Kevin Nicholas, (chief executive) Paul Harrison and BISSA (the Batley Independent Supporters’ Squadbuilder Association), we’ve managed it.”
Olpherts, 34, started out at Dewsbury, then played for Hemel Stags and Newcastle before earning a move to the old Salford, then in Super League.
He also played for Castleford, Leeds and Wakefield, where he had a stand-out 2024 campaign, before joining Featherstone for last season, when he notched 18 tries in 26 outings, so taking his career haul to 139.
“Derrell is a big, strong and athletic man,” added Ford.
“He’s very hard to manage coming out of yardage, he leaves people on the floor and he gets ruck wins. He’ll be a key player for us, whether at wing or centre.”
Batley host Doncaster on Sunday in 17th place in the Championship having lost 28-10 at Halifax following an opening-round bye.