Well, Russel aimed to get rid of JT from the get go, which is rather pointless, and would immediately put him on the Hero's prime enemy list. Russel did this, I suspect, because he's getting cocky and wants to poke JT's dumb ass in the eye for being a dumbass, and basically to provoke the Heros. Russel just came out of a stellar game last season, and he's on a roll that is also amassing quite a bit of self destructive arrogance. Hed've been much better off voting for the weakest link among the Heros tribe, someone they don't care much about. While they'd still be mad that he lied, it would've avoided the in your face betrayal of voting out JT, and might've left him with SOME leverage on their tribe, especially considering they'd just be pissed off at JT since he came up with the idea. The discord it'd create would leave an opening for Russel to stoke the flames and turn things in his favor. However, he was too arrogant to see into that (though I admit it may be easier to see as an observer watching it on tv). It might've also gave him leverage with the votes should he make it to the final 2.
Or, if he was using the strategy of taking out the stronger ones first (among the Heros), he really should've taken out Rupert. Again, the anger towards JT would've possibly worked towards Russel's advantage, so he probably should've left him in the tribe. He's actually a weaker player in that respect.
Also, he's putting himself with a group of ALL women, which is just asking for doom. He had them under control while the villains were still together, but it's nothing more than a ticking timebomb. It's much better to have a group of weaker males with you that outnumber the women, if you're a man who has an alliance. This was easily seen in the last season with the final 4 of Russel's tribe. Being with a group of women as the majority puts him in too much of a precarious position, because although they may tend not to be as much of a threat as strong males, they will be more strongly allied with other women, in most cases. ESPECIALLY when its Parvati. She merely uses men, and allies with women. Russel had better recognize all this and switch up his game quick, or he may very well be finished.