Yere, Parker sign five-year contracts

ENGLAND-based PNG Kumul players Menzie Yere and Jessie Joe Parker have signed a five-year contract between themselves and their respective clubs.
Yere, who is a powerful centre, is remaining with the Sheffield Eagles after he agreed on an exceptional three-year deal.
The contract for the 26-year-old is believed to be the longest offered by the club in the last decade.
Sheffield Eagles coach Mark Aston says it shows the confidence the club has in Papua New Guinea.
“It’s not a problem and it shows the club’s confidence in Yere,” he said. “He is in good physical shape and we aim to put him in even better shape. Over the next three years, I think we will see the best out of Yere.”
Aston added: “Yere loves playing at Eagles, he is very much attached to the club because we gave him the opportunity in the UK. The three-year contract shows a commitment from both parties.”
Yere joined the Eagles two years ago and established a reputation as a hardman with his uncompromising style of blasting runs and bone-shaking tackles.
He was the club’s top try scored with 14 last season and was named in the 2009 Championship All Stars team and the Eagles player of the year.
Off the field, Yere had launched a charity Kits2Kids which collected no longer needed sports gear and would send it back to his native PNG for use by the locals. It has produced a massive response with thousands of shirts and other items being donated by sports fans.
Meanwhile, Wakefield had signed Parker from Featherstone Rovers.
The 24-year-old Papua New Guinea international had agreed to a two-year contract with the Wildcats.
Wildcats head coach John Kear said: “Parker has been outstanding for Featherstone and we believe that he will be a big asset for us.
“We are always interested in the best talent and we are delighted that Parker has agreed to join us,” he added.
“Parker played in the 2008 World Cup in Australia as well as the 2009 Pacific Cup for the Kumuls so he is an experienced international.
“He has proved to be a consistent try-scorer for Rovers and we want him to transfer that talent to Super League for the Wildcats.”