I think that rumour just sprang from someone not realising it was Oliver Russel we were chasing. Salford were similarly linked with Lewis Murphy just prior to signing Loghan Lewis.

That’s what I put it down to aswell. Before the Matty Russell rumour came out the Ollie Russell rumour had come out.

At the point in which we signed Olpherts McGilvery was injured and we were struggling for metres out of our 20. Olpherts came in and gave us some great carries out of the back field, then McGivery was available and DP had a tough choice to make. If I remember correctly, Walmsley was also under a slight injury cloud so Olpherts went to the left wing to accommodate McGilvery, to give Walmsley a rest and to maintain the yardage from our outside backs. Unfortunately for Walmsley Olpherts has done a superb job and is scoring try’s like they’re going out of fashion.
I don’t think there’s anything more to it than that

If it’s that Olpherts is scoring try’s out of fashion then didn’t Walmsley do the same on the left?

So not much between them in the try scoring yet Olpherts gets more yards from back field? I agree.

I'm told that both Russell's have signed for next season and that Matty knows he is only coming as back up

If he's only coming as back up why would we want him.
We need people who want to fight to be no.1 in their position.

Pretty sure he will fight for a spot, he covers full back and wing

Indeed. But that's not what FIL said.

It will be similar to Olpherts coming in this season, he would have known that he was coming as back-up to Walmsley and Jerry but has obviously had the opportunity to play more games due to Jerry's injuries.
I am sure that Russell will get his opportunities next season if Tom or Lachy get injured