Sheffield hail 'significant' signing of PNG's Yere

(GETTY IMAGES)

Sheffield Eagles have signed a second member of Papua New Guinea's much-admired World Cup squad. The National League One club have recruited Menzie Yere, a 20-year-old who scored a try from centre against Australia in the tournament.

Yere, who plays for the Kokopo Island Gurias in the PNG domestic competition and is the country's current Sportsman of the Year, has also appeared at full-back and stand-off.

"Menzie is a significant catch for us and has been one of the better players in the Papuan competition for a number of years," said the Eagles' coach, Mark Aston. Yere will join another Kumul at the Don Valley Stadium, with Sheffield already having signed the forward, Trevor Exton, from Ipswich in the Queensland Cup.

Leeds have had contrasting news about two of their leading overseas players for next season. The Australian Test hooker, Danny Buderus, is not expecting to recover from a torn biceps in time to start the 2009 season at the beginning of February. He hopes, however, to be fit for the World Club Challenge against Manly three weeks later. Leeds' New Zealand international full-back, Brent Webb, is making good progress after surgery on the back injury that kept him out of the World Cup and expects to be ready for the opening match against the Celtic Crusaders on 6 February.

Huddersfield have completed their Super League squad for 2009 by signing the former Bradford and England Academy forward, Larne Patrick, who spent last season playing in Australia for the Narrabeen Sharks.