LONDON: Papua New Guinea powerhouse McKenzie Yei has joined ambitious League 1 outfit Oldham on a deal running until the end of the 2025 season.
He joined Oldham club following his release from Featherstone Rovers, reuniting with Sean Long.
Ex-Rovers boss Long was the man who brought Yei over to the British game, with the Mount Hagen native linking up with Fev ahead of last season.
With Long departing Post Office Road last August, prop Yei made a total of 20 appearances for the West Yorkshire side before being released earlier this month.
Just one of those 20 appearances came this year, featuring in the Challenge Cup against Leigh Leopards, with fitness issues stated as the main reason he had departed Featherstone.
But the four-time Kumuls international hasn’t had to wait long to link up with a new club, given an opportunity to shine in the third tier by Long and the Roughyeds, who have won all four of their league games so far this year with promotion a clear aim.
Yei is currently sidelined through injury and is simultaneously serving a four-game suspension which he picked up after that appearance in the Challenge Cup for Fev against Leigh.
But once he’s back fighting fit, which he expects will be next month, the 26-year-old says he can’t wait to get going.
In Oldham‘s press release announcing his arrival, he said: “I’m really happy to be here, especially to be back with Longy. The boys and coaching staff have been really welcoming.”
“To be honest, I thought I would be going home but Longy spoke to me and gave me the opportunity, so I am really grateful and really happy.
“I run hard and tackle hard, that is me. I can’t wait to get back on the field and I will give my best with the club who has given me this opportunity.
“I will be ready to play after a month or so, hopefully at the end of May. All I want to do is give my best and for the team to go up, I can’t wait.”
Yei linked up with Long at Fev on the back of featuring for PNG at the delayed 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
Having scored a try on his debut in June 2022 in a test match against Fiji, he would go on to make the Kumuls’ World Cup squad and appear in three of their games at the tournament en-route to a quarter-final exit at the hands of host nation England.
Reuniting with the ex-PNG Hunters and Central Queensland Capras ace, Oldham chief Long added: “I brought McKenzie over from Papua New Guinea.
“He is a really genuine, good bloke with no frills.
“He’s just a wrecking ball, and a genuinely nice person who fits our DNA as a club.
“We are attracting top-end Championship players here and long may it continue.” loverrubyleague .compic
Caption: McKenzie Yei scores a try for Featherstone Rovers at the 2023 Summer Bash. – loverrubyleague .compic
