Dwight Yorke's quokka shocker: Manchester United star thought the cute critters on Rottnest Island were koalas - until he did a guided tour
- Former Manchester United player has mistaken quokkas for koalas during a tour
- Yorke was in town on Sunday to promote Manchester United's 10-day July tour
- He had a close encounter with a quokka on Rottnest Island in Western Australia
Former Manchester United player turned ambassador Dwight Yorke has admitted he thought Western Australia's iconic quokkas were in fact koalas.
Yorke was in town on Sunday to promote Manchester United's planned July 10-day visit when he made the remark to West Coast star Nic Naitanui, 7News reported.
'What's this thing here? I was expecting this... what do you call it?' Yorke asked Naitanui in front of their entourage, to which he replied, 'koala'.
Former Manchester United player turned ambassador Dwight Yorke (pictured right) has admitted he thought Western Australia's iconic quokkas were in fact koalas
Following a quick sea-plane ride over the city to get a birds-eye view of Optus Stadium, Yorke (pictured left with Nic Naitanui right) indulged in some fishing for crayfish.
Despite his confusion, Yorke wasted no time posing for the obligatory selfie with the lovable critter, which is a type of marsupial like kangaroos and wallabies.
'Obviously, if it's good enough for Federer and those guys who are taking selfies, and Matt Damon, I'm sure I can fit into that category - it'd be nice,' he said.
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While he initially believed he would be seeing koalas, Yorke confessed he thought the quokkas were rocks and then rats when he encountered them for the first time.
The close encounter on Rottnest Island was just a small part of the league player's whirlwind tour, which started with an early-morning sea-plane ride.
Yorke (pictured far left) was in town on Sunday to promote Manchester United's planned July 10-day visit when he made the remark to West Coast star Nic Naitanui (pictured top right)
Following the quick trip over the city to get a birds-eye view of Optus Stadium, the pair also indulged in some fishing for crayfish.
Tourism Minister Paul Papalia told Perth Now he hoped to take many more Manchester United players to Rottnest island for selfies when they arrive in July.
Yorke said he thinks the players will look forward to the experience.
'[It is] one of the great opportunities for playing for such a great club, you get to travel, you get to meet the fans and Perth is a wonderful city,' he said.
